NEWSLETTER
I just don’t know what else Dylan Strome can do to keep a spot in the lineup. He’s hardly the issue for the Blackhawks this season, especially when the team is one of the worst in the league at creating offense. Strome is not the answer to all of the team’s problems offensively, no, but he helps.
He can create chances and provide skill with the right linemates and in powerplay situations. But unfortunately, he’ll be a healthy-scratch once again this season, being pulled out of the lineup tonight in Montreal as the Blackhawks take on the Canadiens.
Strome and Derek King had a lengthy talk on the ice a few minutes ago. Strome's body language has looked defeated since then. We'll see what comes of this
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) December 9, 2021
In Strome’s place in the lineup will be a returning Philipp Kurashev, fresh off a three-game stint in the AHL with the Rockford IceHogs. Kurashev had three points in his three games during that time. Strome, on the other hand, has recorded a point in back-to-back games with a goal against the Islanders on Sunday night and an assist against the Rangers on Tuesday night. But for interim head coach Derek King, who has been a bigger fan of Strome’s this season than Jeremy Colliton was, he expects more than just point-production from the former third-overall pick.
Derek King on Dylan Strome: "He's going to have to change his game a little bit to play."
Full quote: pic.twitter.com/MPYjKnLvK8
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) December 9, 2021
Ok, so you want him to be David Kämpf? That’s not his game.
Strome never was, never will be a defensively-sound centerman who you can put on the penalty-kill or send out to win a defensive zone faceoff in crunch-time. We know this already after 220 career NHL games. I get that needing to “do the little things right” is very important in all aspects of sports, not just hockey, but for a player who has a 57.35 Corsi-For%, 55.95 Expected Goals-For%, and a 66.67 Actual Goals-For% since becoming a lineup-regular again to be scratched on an offensively-inept team…I just cannot wrap my head around it.
Even the Blackhawks social media figured Strome, with points in back-to-back games, was a good candidate for their gameday tweet. But alas…
It is now a tale of four tweets…#Blackhawks https://t.co/7lOB3nVsdI pic.twitter.com/OtYHGa9ibu
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) December 9, 2021
Hey, the job of a social media manager is not an easy one.
I don’t think Strome is going to have a future with the Blackhawks beyond this season, so you would think playing him and allowing him to potentially do well to up his trade value, or do well enough that he has to be in the lineup, would be in the best interest of the team and himself. I guess we’ll see what happens tonight in Montreal.
