The Washington Capitals made a couple of moves to address the team’s defense over the offseason. Former GM Brian MacLellan added former Los Angeles Kings blueliner Matt Roy to the fold as a free agent, while also striking a deal with the Ottawa Senators for Jakob Chychrun. With Chychrun, Washington is his third NHL team since being drafted in 2016. He started as a member of the Arizona Coyotes, before playing parts of two campaigns in Ottawa. When he came to D.C., he reunited with one of his teammates from his early days in Arizona in Dylan Strome. The two now find each other as teammates again for the Capitals as the puck will soon drop to begin the 2024-25 regular season in Washington.
Chychrun and Strome’s Time with the Arizona Coyotes
Both Dylan Strome and Jakob Chychrun started as draft selections by the Coyotes. Arizona picked Strome with the third overall selection in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. Chychrun, meanwhile, was chosen with the 16th overall pick in the 2016 Draft. They both played together for the Coyotes for parts of three seasons. They first suited up together in 2016-17. Strome played seven games for the club, where he produced an assist, before returning to the Erie Otters in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Chychrun suited up in 68 games for Arizona and amassed 20 points in that span (seven goals and 13 assists). They played some games together during the 2017-18 and 2018-19 campaigns too. Below are their stats for each season with the Coyotes:
Dylan Strome
- 2017-18: four goals and five assists for nine points in 21 games
- 2018-19: three goals and three assists for six points in 20 games
Jakob Chychrun
- 2017-18: four goals and 10 assists for 14 points in 50 games
- 2018-19: five goals and 15 assists for 20 points in 53 games
The 2018-19 campaign was when the paths of Strome and Chychrun separated. Then-Coyotes general manager John Chayka traded Strome to the Chicago Blackhawks, along with Brendan Perlini, for Nick Schmaltz on November 25, 2018. Strome grew more as a talent with Chicago, while Chychrun continued to be a pivotal piece on Arizona’s blue line.
Strome and Chychrun’s Journeys to Washington
Fast forwarding to the 2021-22 campaign, Strome had a great offensive season for the Blackhawks. He scored 22 goals and recorded 26 assists for 48 points in 69 games. That started his offensive stats increase from previous NHL campaigns. Strome became a free agent in the 2022 offseason, and he signed a deal with Washington to become a member of the Capitals. He continued having a scoring touch in D.C., becoming one of the vital members of the offense. During Strome’s time in D.C. so far, he has registered the following numbers:
- 2022-23: 23 goals and 42 assists for 65 points in 81 games
- 2023-24: 27 goals and 40 assists for 67 points in 82 games
Each of these campaigns have been career-highs for Strome.
As for Chychrun, he became a defender with the Coyotes who could record his fair share of offensive stats. His best campaign for Arizona occurred in 2020-21, when he accumulated 41 points in 56 games (18 goals and 23 assists).
Chychrun was dealt from Arizona to the Ottawa Senators in the middle of the 2022-23 season. He did not spend a long time with the Senators, but he did tie his career high in points last season with 41 (14 goals and 27 assists). With one campaign remaining on his current deal, he was moved again during the 2024 offseason to the Capitals in exchange for blueliner Nick Jensen and a 2026 third-round draft pick. After going on their own NHL paths the last few years, both Strome and Chychrun are reunited in D.C. prior to the 2024-25 season.
Strome and Chychrun on Their NHL History
Strome discussed his time with Chychrun in Arizona and what he brings to the Capitals. Strome said, “He’s great. He’s a fun guy to be around. We had a lot of fun times together…We lived together for four, five months when I was in Arizona. It’s just nice to see him around. A familiar face and he’s a great hockey player. Really, really strong. Really good skater. Good with the puck. Can shoot it 100 miles an hour. So, I think any time you bring a guy with that toolset, it’s only gonna help your team.”
Chychrun also talked about how good it is to be reunited with Strome, and how they came into the NHL together and have grown their games. Chychrun said, “Yeah it’s great. Yeah, we lived with each other in Arizona for a bit. Lot of good memories coming into the league at young ages together. Been able to develop together. It’s everyone’s dream at that age to make the NHL, so we made it at the same time together and just…to have that experience is pretty special. Each day is like the day of your life at that age, so we were really soaking it up together. Lots of good memories…It’s nice to be here and have that familiar face…”
