2015 NHL Mock Draft: Coyotes Select Dylan Strome

The Fansided Network will be having a month long mock draft with each team blog selecting their team’s player. The first one up is Howling Hockey, bringing the Arizona Coyotes selection of Dylan Strome.

Dylan Strome

Jr Team: Erie Otters

2014-2015 Stats: 129 points

Accolades: 2014-2015 OHL scoring champion. Tied for the most points in the entire CHL.

Prospect Profile

Strome has had the benefit of playing with the best player in the Ontario Hockey League this season, Connor McDavid. However, Strome shouldn’t be overlooked for this fact.

The 6’3 Mississauga native is a goal scorer, plain and simple. He’s a big body as well and he’s not afraid to use it to crash the net. MyNHLDraft.com had this to say about Strome:

"“He has that competitive edge and grittiness; he wants to succeed, wants the puck, wants to score and wants to win. He’s a skilled, driven player, a strong skater with the agility and reach that scouts love.”"

Strome had a breakout season this year with Erie. He put up 129 points over 60 games after scoring just 39 points in the same amount of contests last season. He was also a +47 on the season and put up 22 points in the Otters’ playoff run which fell short in Oshawa. He’s been ranked anywhere between third and sixth for prospects in the upcoming draft.

Dylan has a brother, Ryan Strome, who plays in the NHL with the New York Islanders.

How He Fits

The Coyotes already have two mega prospects at the forward position in their system with Anthony Duclair and Max Domi.

Remember, Arizona got the short end of the stick in the NHL draft lottery. They had the second worst record in hockey this year behind Buffalo, so in a perfect world, they’d be in the second slot selecting Jack Eichel right here. Well, it’s not a perfect world, and Strome isn’t a horrible consolation prize.

The Coyotes have many options with this pick. Mitch Marner and Noah Hanifan were tempting, Howlin Hockey even admitted. However, they came to the correct conclusion that the Coyotes need to add goal scoring more than anything after having the 29th ranked offense in the NHL this past season.

Domi and Duclair should be up with the Coyotes this season, and having them along with Strome in the NHL right away should boost at least some of their scoring. At the very least, they will be dynamic to watch.