Capitals re-sign Dylan Strome — What does it say about their future at center?

Dylan Strome bet on himself last summer and, after a strong start to the season, the gamble has paid off.

The 25-year-old center re-signed with the Capitals on Friday, inking a five-year, $25 million extension. The $5 million average annual value of his new deal, which begins next season, represents a big step up from the one-year, $3.5 million contract he signed on July 14, the second day of free agency.

Strome’s agent, Patrick Morris of Newport Sports Management, told The Athletic that he and the Caps first broached the subject of an extension in late December and that the sides chipped away at a deal over the past couple of weeks.

Strome was slated to become a restricted free agent with salary arbitration rights at season’s end.

“He’s gotten to know Washington, loves the city, the fan base and has really gelled with his teammates,” Morris said. “So when they approached us, I took it to Dylan and he was excited to be wanted.”

Strome has been one of the Caps’ best players this season. In 52 games, he’s amassed 11 goals and 36 points, the third-highest total behind Alex Ovechkin’s 54 points and Evgeny Kuznetsov’s 43. Strome’s 14 points on the power play are also third.

Sportlogiq’s analytics provide a more detailed look at the parts of Strome’s game that won over the Caps:

As the chart shows, Strome’s biggest strength is distributing the puck, a fact underscored by his offensive-zone pass and slot pass completion numbers. And while he doesn’t skate the puck into the offensive zone a lot, when he does, he typically makes a successful play upon entering.

And while Strome is not a physical player, he does use his 6-foot-3, 200-pound frame to his advantage, particularly around the net. In fact, his four tip-ins and/or redirection goals are the most on the team. The chart also shows that Strome is a smart player who turns over the puck on fewer than 13 percent of his touches.

In addition, he’s also been versatile in his first season in D.C., and that flexibility has proven important given the team’s persistent injury issues. He’s centered Alex Ovechkin’s line as well as the second line and can skate on the wing if needed. He’s also been mainstay on the second power-play unit, though he’s received spot duty on the first.

“Dylan is an intelligent and skilled center and has been a great addition to our organization,” general manager Brian MacLellan said in a statement. “We feel his skill set is a great fit for our team as he enters the prime years of his career at an important position.”

Strome’s extension gives Washington some stability — and, by extension, cost certainty — at a critical position.

With Lars Eller’s contract expiring at season’s end, that probably means the Caps intend to go Kuznetsov, Strome, Nicklas Backstrom and Nic Dowd down the middle for the next couple of seasons as management attempts to wring out the last drop from the Ovechkin era. Kuznetsov, Backstrom and Dowd are all signed through 2024-25.

It also gives Strome some security after an uneven start to his career. Originally drafted No. 3 overall by Arizona in 2015, he was dealt to Chicago in 2018. Then, after an up-and-down run with the Blackhawks, he did not receive a qualifying offer last summer, making him a free agent.

“That creates a, ‘Where am I in my career?’ situation for the player,” Morris said. “His career has not gone in a straight line; there have been some starts and stops. But Dylan has a lot of confidence in himself.”

A number of teams, including the Caps, pursued Strome on the opening day of free agency. Some put forth better offers than Washington’s. In the end, though, he felt D.C. offered the best fit and opportunity.

“Washington hand-picked Dylan and he hand-picked Washington against some other suitors when he was unrestricted last summer,” Morris said. “The fit seemed to be there with Backstrom’s injury.”

Morris added: “He’s excited that Washington, a very good team and a Stanley Cup winner, believes in him the way that they do.”

Strome’s new contract locks him up through 2027-28 — a season longer than anyone else on the roster. His cap hit will be the ninth-highest on the team next season behind Ovechkin ($9.5 million), Backstrom ($9.2 million), John Carlson ($8 million), Kuznetsov ($7.8 million), T.J. Oshie ($5.75 million), Anthony Mantha ($5.7 million), Darcy Kuemper ($5.25 million) and Tom Wilson ($5.16 million).

Morris, who also represents Strome’s older brother Ryan, a forward for the Ducks, said he believes the younger Strome has some runway left to improve. (Interestingly, Ryan Strome signed a five-year, $25 million deal in Anaheim last July.)

“He works at his craft — hard — in the summer,” Morris said of Dylan. “He knows what his strengths are and what he needs to improve upon. He’ll continue to get better.”

(Chart data per Sportlogiq)

(Photo of Dylan Strome: Jamie Sabau / USA Today)