Late last night the Arizona Coyotes sent Dylan Strome and Brendan Perlini to the Chicago Blackhawks for Nick Schmaltz.
Our original trade post with some thoughts from the media and player stats can be found here. Rather than adding to the post there and potentially missed, we created another post for more thoughts from the media on this interesting trade.
Jay Zawaski: “Source on the Schmaltz deal: Strome: really skilled but slow Perlini: big, skates well, works hard, solid wrist shot Also hinted that the Schmaltz camp was asking for more than the Hawks thought he was worth. He was due to be a RFA after this season.”
Jay Zawaski: “I’m told he was asking MUCH more than $3 million.”
Craig Morgan: “Clearly, all 3 players have had trouble reaching their potential. We’ll see if change alters that. Schmaltz had 21 goals & 52 points last season in Chicago. There’s something there. Can he & the Coyotes find it again? Just as important, will this be the needed wake-up call in AZ?”
Craig Morgan: “I think all fan bases overvalue their own players. The bottom line is none of these 3 players has lived up to his potential. Was the fault with scouts? Development staff? Coaches? The players? The answers are never simple, but Strome & Perlini never seemed to find their way here.”
L.A. Lariviere: “I don’t care who was a 1st rounder by Yotes, they just got Nick freakin’ Schmaltz. Chayka gave up two guys for a player who has it all.”
Eric Engels: “1. Not all Stromes are equal. 2. There are many people who like it for Chicago. 3. Maybe watching a guy get out of Arizona and produce more than a point per game elsewhere is influencing my opinion.”
Eric Engels: On Perlini: “He’s a hard-working player who’s produced decently in the NHL and is over a point per game in the A. He’s 22. Strome still has upside. 2-for-1 deal… they’d have to both fall way short for CHI to lose it.”
Catherine Silverman: “Curious what happens to Strome in Chicago. Said it earlier today: slower players have managed to adapt their ability to control the game to the NHL level, he just hasn’t yet. Question is how he’ll develop his game into one that dictates pace of play on its own.”
Catherine Silverman: “Re: Strome, the raw comparison to Joe Thornton is still evident. But where Jumbo can hold others off the puck as he sets up offensive plays, Strome still gets bodied off and loses those puck battles. Think that’s the key to eventual, potential NHL success.”
Catherine Silverman: “Perlini is, in my opinion, the higher end player in this deal on Arizona’s end – But like Schmaltz in Chicago seemed to have fallen out of favor and struggled as a result. Strome has probably the best playmaking vision of these three, but genuinely unsure if he has NHL speed.”
Adam Gretz: “Maybe Strome doesn’t pan out. Maybe he just isn’t an NHL player. But I don’t think there’s enough of a difference between Schmaltz and Perlini to not take that chance.”
Frank Seravalli: “Dylan Strome is the fifth No. 3 overall pick traded from the last 10 #NHL drafts: Strome (2015), Drouin (2013), Galchenyuk (2012), Gudbranson (2010), Duchene (2009). Strome is the quickest moved of them all, Drouin was in TBL organization for four full seasons before 2017 Trade.”
