Marner, Strome hope for NHL next season; world juniors likely consolation prize
TORONTO — If Dylan Strome had his way he wouldn’t be in Toronto when the world junior championships kick off in late December. The 19-year-old would be playing for the Arizona Coyotes instead.
“You want to experience it,” Strome said on Sunday, the first day of Hockey Canada’s summer development camp for the 2017 world junior squad. “But at the same time your goal is to be in the NHL.”
Canada’s top two talents for the tournament are both uncertain bets to play for the team this winter.
Selected one pick after Strome at the NHL draft last summer, Mitch Marner is also hoping to be in the NHL come fall and beyond that into the winter. He was more diplomatic about the prospect of returning to junior hockey and playing for Canada at the world juniors, though.