Strome's Next Step: Play Full Season in NHL

GLENDALE -- Dylan Strome knows this is a critical season for him as he attempts to establish himself as an NHL player. His goal is to make Arizona's Opening Night roster and play all 82 games.
Strome, whom the Coyotes selected third overall in the 2015 NHL Draft, already has proven he can produce points in junior hockey and in the American Hockey League. And he showed flashes of production for Arizona during the final 10 games of last season.
The question is, can Strome, now 21, contribute consistently at both ends of the ice in the NHL?

"I want to build on last year," Strome said. "Our whole organization wants to build on last year and it's no different for me. I feel really good at this camp and I'm looking forward to the rest of it and playing more exhibition games and then the season."
The Coyotes are deep at center but there is an opening at camp because Christian Dvorak is injured and hasn't skated with teammates yet. Dvorak's absence has resulted in Strome playing center, his lifelong position, at camp and in the first few exhibition games.
"He's had a good start here," General Manager John Chayka told Arizona Sports 98.7 FM, the team's flagship radio station. "He played well (on Tuesday night) in LA. Look, it's open competition. We've got a lot of depth now and a lot of good talent. We've got some good centermen here. Dvorak is dealing with a bit of a nagging injury and that's going to bring some opportunity for someone, and hopefully Dylan steps up and grabs it and continues to gain the trust of the coach and continues to produce like we know he can. I'm excited about Dylan. It's tough to find what he brings. I think he's got a bright future."

Strome came to camp not concerned with what position he would play. He just wants to impress Chayka and Head Coach Rick Tocchet enough to earn a roster spot for Opening Night and spend the season in the NHL.
"I don't think it really matters where I play," Strome said. "I've talked to 'Toc' a little bit about that. It's going to go day by day. We'll see what happens. I'm prepared. I worked a little bit on being a winger this summer so I'm ready for both. I've been a center a long time but sometimes you have to adjust to help the team win."
Tocchet understands that first-round draft picks mature at different speeds. Some, such as Conor McDavid and Jack Eichel, the two players drafted before Strome in 2015, make an immediate impact. Others are late bloomers. Tocchet said he can sense Strome eagerly wants to show he belongs in the NHL now.
"This is his fourth (pro) camp so I want to see him separate from the guys who are going to Tucson and the junior guys," Tocchet said. "That's what we're looking for from Dylan at this camp. Dylan gets his points, but there are some parts to his game that he's got to clean up and if he continues to work with a good attitude he can get there."
Strome trained in Canada for most of the off-season and arrived in Arizona about two weeks before camp began. Improving his core strength was tops on his to-do list.

"My core needed to get stronger, so everything I would do my trainers would make sure that my core was turned on, and obvuisouly that helps skating and that helps balance and it helps everything," Strome said. "When your core is strong and the muscles in your stomach are working, I think it just helps everything kind of blend together."
Strome played in two of Arizona's first three preseason games. He skated about 15 minutes in each game, notched an assist and won 15 of 26 face-offs. His comfort level on NHL ice is the highest it's been, even higher than the end of last season when he produced three goals and five assists over 10 games.
"I was myself during that time, and I felt comfortable with everyone and I felt like I was part of the team," Strome said. "The team was winning so everyone was having more fun and everyone was more open and enjoyable. It was fun to be around. Like I said, I felt good about my game and finally realized that I deserved to be there."