from Dave Vest of ArizonaCoyotes.com,

Dylan Strome came closer than experts expected to making the NHL as an 18-year-old center.

But when it came down to crafting the 23-man roster for the 2015-16 season, Coyotes management decided the No. 3 pick in this year’s NHL Draft would be better served maturing via another season of junior hockey and, presumably, competing in the prestigious IIHF World Junior Championship in December/January.

"Dylan had a terrific training camp," General Manager Don Maloney told me. "However, he is still a very young man who will be able to mature away from the NHL spotlight. He has all the ingredients we like in a player – intelligent, competitive and skilled. He simply needs more time to work on his strength and quickness. He will be an important player for us in the future."

Strome played extremely well in rookie camp and then well enough to stay in camp with the veterans up until the last day. But Tippett said Strome leveled off during the last few preseason games in which he played, and on Friday vs. San Jose, against a nearly complete NHL lineup, it became clear he wasn’t quite ready to make the jump.

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