Arizona signs ‘key building block’ Dylan Strome to entry-level contract
A top prospect not named Jack Eichel or Connor McDavid signed an entry-level contract. Yes, there were talented players in this year’s draft with other names.
Dylan Strome, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2015 Draft inked an entry-level deal with the Arizona Coyotes on Monday.
Strome actually had more points than McDavid last season. Though his 129 points were accrued in 68 games. McDavid, the savior of hockey in Edmonton, got 120 points in 47 contests thanks to an injury. Kids these days and their tempers.
“We are very pleased to sign Dylan to an entry-level contract,” general manager Don Maloney said in a team statement. “Dylan is a very talented player and all he’s done his entire career is lead his teams and leagues in scoring and win championships. He will be an important player for us in the future and a key building block for this franchise.”
Strome was kind of considered a consolation prize in the super 1-2 heavy draft. But really it was hard for teams not picking first or second to get pumped about the selection process. Especially the Coyotes, who finished with the second-worst record in the NHL.
“There was a lot of misery to get to that third pick, so there was nothing fun about it. This is the only day you’re like ‘OK, I’m glad I had No. 3.’ We have a lot of work to do to get some respect back in this organization,” Maloney said at the draft.
He also said that it was important for his team to be strong at center ice, the vogue position in today’s Western Conference. Enter the 6-foot-3, 187-pound Strome, who probably will not have the immediate impact of McDavid or Eichel. But he was recently received the “William Hanley Memorial Trophy as the OHL’s most sportsmanlike player” last season. If he ever wins a Lady Byng, hopefully he will give a speech without wearing shoes.
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Josh Cooper is an editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @joshuacooper
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