Strome scored 22 goals and 48 points in 69 contests with Chicago in 2021-22. It was a bounce back season for him, but the Blackhawks still decided against providing him with a qualifying offer. That made him an unrestricted free agent. "It's a little bit, I mean, it's frustrating, of course, because you think that you have a good season and you put all this effort and hard work and everything into a team, like you work so hard to be on a team and to make them want you and then they kind of just let you go," Strome said. "It's definitely not fun to hear for anyone. I don't think anyone wants to hear that you don't get qualified, but at the same time, new opportunities arise and you've got to adapt on the fly." When he entered the UFA market, the Capitals expressed interest in him and he ultimately signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract. With Nicklas Backstrom out indefinitely, Strome could enter the season as Washington's second-line center.

Strome accumulated 22 goals and 48 points in 69 games for Chicago during the 2021-22 season. He was permitted to become an unrestricted free agent after the Blackhawks didn't give him a qualifying offer. Strome will get a chance to fill in as Washington's second-line center in 2022-23 due to the absence of Nicklas Backstrom, who had resurfacing surgery on his left hip a month ago. 

Strome and Kubalik will be eligible for unrestricted free agency as a result. Chicago also chose not to tender qualifying offers to Andrei Altybarmakyan, Cameron Morrison, Wyatt Kalynuk and Cale Morris. The only two players who were given qualifying offers by the team were Caleb Jones and Philipp Kurashev.

Strome will become an unrestricted free agent as a result. His qualifying offer would have been $3.6 million. Strome was productive on Chicago's top line during the 2021-22 season between Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat, who was traded to the Ottawa Senators. He posted 22 goals and 48 points in 69 matches.