The connection between Dylan Strome and Alex Ovechkin on the Washington Capitals’ top line this season has become one of the hottest stories in hockey. Their production rate has turned heads and furthered talk of Ovechkin breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record sooner than most anticipated.
Ovechkin already has 10 goals through 14 games this season, putting him on pace for 58 goals, and Strome has an assist on every single one. With that sort of consistency, Strome has given himself great odds to contribute to one of many milestone Ovechkin markers on the horizon. However, the 27-year-old pivot knows nothing is guaranteed, even if the two keep up their hot starts to the 2024-25 campaign.
“Yeah, you can’t control those things,” Strome said. “Just try to help the team win and help do what you can to get him to that position where, hopefully, he has a chance to break the record. I think hockey’s a pretty random game, and it could be anyone that gets an assist on that goal or the tying goal or the goal after or whatever, 900 — there’s lots of important ones.”
Strome has already notched an assist on one of Ovechkin’s significant milestone markers, dishing to Ovechkin on the goal that saw him tie Gordie Howe for the second-most goals in NHL history (801).
Aided by advice from Nicklas Backstrom, Strome has formed one of the most dangerous duos in the league with Ovechkin. With the help of his assists on all of Ovechkin’s goals, The Great Eight is just two goals from the NHL lead this season and just 31 goals from tying Gretzky.
“Yeah, so basically, I’m gonna get 35 straight assists and then not on that one,” Strome said, laughing. “It’s just part of hockey. So, try not to worry about it. I mean, we got a lot of work to do to get there. But no, just try to keep getting him the puck in good areas, and he usually does the rest from there.”
The pairing has also led to some personal glory so far this season. Strome’s 22 points (4g, 18a) are tied for the fifth most in the league, and he’s on pace to shatter his previous single-season career-high of 67 points (27g, 40a) set last year. His current pace sees him set for 128 points (23g, 105a) this year.
