Coyotes' Strome: 'I'm done with junior'

Dylan Strome is ready to play with the big boys.

Last year's third overall pick is coming off his third season of junior, playing for the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League - in his eyes that should be enough to earn him an NHL job.

"For myself personally I obviously feel like I'm done with junior and I don't want to be there next year," Strome said, according to The Canadian Press.

"But at the same time, I obviously want to play in the NHL for a long time in my career and if Arizona thinks that's best for me next year then I don't really have a choice, that's obviously what I'm going to do."

Strome was one of the Arizona Coyotes' final cuts heading into last season. In fact, he feels that he could have managed quite well with the NHL club this past campaign.

"t's not really up to me," Strome said. "I obviously felt like I could've been done (with junior hockey) last year. I made it to the last day of (NHL) camp and last cuts.

"Hopefully this year I can just try to make it a little farther and show what I can do in the exhibition games again. I think (the Coyotes) were pretty impressed with me last year and hopefully they like what they see again and I can get some games in this year."

After pacing the CHL in scoring during his draft year with 129 points in 68 games, Strome managed another 111 points in 56 games this season, besting his prior points per game total. Strome is just hopeful those numbers are good enough to land him a roster spot come opening night.