Connect with us

Chicago Blackhawks

Toews Availability for Blackhawks Could Determine a Strome Trade

While questions remain surrounding his health, if Jonathan Toews is good to start the season it could result in a Dylan Strome trade.

After a disappointing 2020-21 season in which he posted just nine goals and 17 points in 40 games, Dylan Strome has been discussed in plenty of trade rumors as the Chicago Blackhawks have reportedly been calling teams to see who may be interested in him.

The 24-year-old has had his ups and downs with the Blackhawks since being acquired in a trade from the Arizona Coyotes during the 2018 NHL offseason. In 2018-19, he proved his skill level which made him the third overall pick in 2015, scoring 17 goals and 51 points in just 58 games. Unfortunately, he has been extremely inconsistent ever since, and it looks as though a change of scenery may be best for both parties involved here.

Related: Eichel to Miss Start of 2021-22 NHL Season

Dylan Strome Chicago Blackhawks Upper Deck
Dylan Strome Chicago Blackhawks Upper Deck

However, according to Blackhawks reporter Ben Hope, a Strome trade this offseason is no guarantee. He believes that whether or he gets moved could be based on whether or not captain Jonathan Toews is ready to go once the 2021-22 season gets underway. There is no guarantee that happens given that he was forced to miss all of last season with what has been diagnosed as chronic immune response syndrome.

If Toews isn’t available, the Blackhawks will likely hold onto Strome and have him center their second line. If he is good to go however, Chicago’s center position is logjammed with himself, Kirby Dach, Tyler Johnson, and Ryan Carpenter all under contract. This would mean that Strome would be forced to play the wing, a position that he has struggled with in the past.

As for what the trade market looks like for Strome, it is hard to judge at this point given his inconsistencies at the NHL level. He has a ton of skill, which he has proven in the past, and is still very young while on a contract that carries an AAV of just $3 million. To put it simply, teams will be interested, but how much they would be willing to part with remains a mystery.

At this point in his career, Strome is in a very similar spot to what his brother Ryan was just a few short seasons ago. Like his younger brother, Ryan was clearly a talented player but was struggling to find a role in the NHL. Thankfully, a trade to the New York Rangers was what it took for his career to really take off. Hopefully for Dylan, if he is to get traded, he gets moved to a team where he can properly fit in and showcase his talent.

Next: Auston Matthews Predicts Maple Leafs’ Stanley Cup Success

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

More News

Discover more from NHL Trade Talk

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading