Early return on Strome/Schmaltz trade is win-win for Coyotes, Blackhawks

It has been almost two months since the Arizona Coyotes traded two of their former first-round picks — Dylan Strome and Brendan Perlini — to Chicago for center Nick Schmaltz.

Despite the lack of elapsed time since the trade, there has already been a clear-cut return on investment for both teams.

The Coyotes and Blackhawks have both benefited from the trade in the short term and are positioned for long-term success with two of the players — Schmaltz and Strome — in line to become franchise cornerstones.

First, let’s break down Schmaltz’s instant impact on the Coyotes’ offense.

Schmaltz, 22, came to Arizona with an already polished offensive resume, a need for a Coyotes team that has struggled to score at times this season.

He scored 21 goals and added 31 assists with the Blackhawks in 2017-18, his second season in the NHL.

Those 52 points would have been third-best for the Coyotes last season and his production didn’t drop off following the trade.

Schmaltz scored five goals and added nine assists in just 17 games with the Coyotes before going down with a season-ending injury.

Even in the limited action, he proved a valuable asset on the power play.

Seven of Schmaltz’s 14 points came on the man advantage and as a right-handed forward, provided balance on the first-line power play unit that included lefties Clayton Keller, Alex Galchenyuk, Jakob Chychrun and Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

Take this power-play goal against the Los Angeles Kings in early December as a glimpse into what Schmaltz will provide to the Coyotes in years to come:

What an addition Nick Schmaltz has been! 2-0 @ArizonaCoyotes. #OurPack pic.twitter.com/NceRtYoJK7

— FOX Sports Arizona (@FOXSPORTSAZ) December 5, 2018

Also, Schmaltz proved to be a scorer despite his line mates.

He scored and assisted whether he was on a line with Keller, Galchenyuk, Richard Panik or whoever else.

Schmaltz’s final goal of the season was an overtime winner with Keller and Ekman-Larsson on the line with him:

#YOTES WIN! Schmaltz from Keller completes the @ArizonaCoyotes comeback in Anaheim. pic.twitter.com/PusJCIGPix

— FOX Sports Arizona (@FOXSPORTSAZ) December 30, 2018

Schmaltz’s rookie contract is up after this season but as a restricted free agent, it’s likely the Coyotes will re-sign him in the offseason.

Next season, center could be a position of strength for the Coyotes with Schmaltz, Derek Stepan, Brad Richardson and Christian Dvorak.

“Nick is a dynamic forward with top line potential,” general manager John Chayka said in a statement following the trade. “We feel he can be a core player of our team now and into the future. He’s a good complement to our evolving forward group and a rare combination of speed, skill and creativity.”

Next, Strome’s impact in Chicago can’t be understated.

One of the 2015 No. 3 overall pick’s biggest knocks during his brief time in Arizona was his lack of offensive production.

He struggled to crack the rotation at the NHL level and managed just 16 points in 48 games with the Coyotes.

Since the trade to Chicago, Strome has 16 points in just 25 games.

Sure, it helps he anchors a line with one of the NHL’s all-time best offensive assets in Patrick Kane and rising star/good friend Alex DeBrincat, but the Blackhawks are unlocking Strome’s offensive abilities.

Strome looks comfortable in the open ice and with his 6-foot-3, 200-pound frame, has found a place in front of the net.

DYLAN STROME GOES TO THE NET. THATS MY GUY pic.twitter.com/xoTCkE0pKJ

— Chief (@BarstoolChief) November 28, 2018

He’s got six multi-point games with the Blackhawks already, including a three-point game against the Washington Capitals on Sunday.

Strome’s assist on a DeBrincat goal against the Capitals was pretty slick:

🐱 + ⛈ = friendship & hockey #goals

cc: @Brinksy97 and @stromer19 pic.twitter.com/e9jUiC9FCH

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) January 20, 2019

Strome should continue to improve with experience, a win for a Blackhawks team going through a hybrid rebuild.

The final part of the trade, forward Brendan Perlini, hasn’t panned out for the Blackhawks.

He’s got just four points in 23 games with Chicago and is a minus-16. Perlini hasn’t seen more than 11:55 of ice time in over a month.

It’s possible the 22-year-old could regain his 2017-18 form, when he scored 17 goals and had 30 points, but he hasn’t it so far.

If anything, Perlini’s absence, coupled with injuries, has allowed for guys like Conor Garland to get a shot with the Coyotes.

Moving forward, it’ll be interesting to see how Schmaltz and Strome continue to develop with their respective teams.

But for now, it’s a trade that has looked good for the Coyotes and the Blackhawks.

Follow @DannyShapiro13