ARLINGTON, V.A. — For Dylan Strome, the Washington Capitals have come to mean just about everything.

It's where the 28-year-old found a home after years of uncertainty in his still-young career, as he was able to transform a one-year gamble into a long-term stay after fitting right in and taking the reins as the team's new No. 1 center.

"You definitely don't want to take it for granted," Strome said of his time with Washington.

Over the last three years, the feeling has been mutual for D.C., with Strome being a key centerpiece to the team's pivot toward success. He has gotten better and better with each year, turning back-to-back 60-plus point seasons into a point-per-game season this time around to help the Capitals clinch the top spot in the East.

"It's nice to be recognized individual sometimes for some things... but I think it's just a credit to our team," Strome said of his personal success, adding, "It's nice to be on the ice with really good players."

What's helped his transformation into a top center, though, is the way he thinks the game.

"If you watch him play for the casual fan, he's not going to wow you with speed, his shot. You watch him and go, 'OK, well, what does this guy do?' But if you really watch him, his mind for the game, especially offensively, is so elite. And his ability to find space, find people —  probably his best quality he has as a player is he slows the game down, meaning he can hold onto a puck," coach Spencer Carbery said.

Carbery took it a step further, explaining that the "hockey nerd" in Strome has also helped him become one of the league's top centers.

"He's the type of guy since his days in Arizona, Chicago, he just continues to push the envelope and get better and better and better and better. People probably think like, 'When this is going to stop? He had another career year,'" Carbery said. "He's a hockey nerd, loves the game, always trying to get better, always trying to improve his game, always trying to look at ways that he can be one of the elite centermen in this league, and so he's a very, very motivated guy that just continues to get better."

His impact though — surprisingly, considering his personal love of numbers and stats — goes beyond the scoresheet.

He's emerged as a leader and vocal member of the room, one that sets the example and has also earned him a spot as one of the alternate captains when the occasion calls for it. His competitive drive and work ethic also sets the example for his teammates.

"He's been a guy since he's been here that has just been putting in the work and quietly making this team click," Tom Wilson said. "He's a guy that, whoever he's playing with, he's got great vision... he's definitely the guy that is kind of making it go for our club this year."

Now in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, he's doing whatever he can to tilt the ice even more. He has a point in each of the team's five playoff games so far, and his nine points lead the Capitals to open the postseason.

"He wants to win so badly and wants to do well and is always in pursuit of getting better," Carbery added. "... He's got such a high individual motivation level for himself."

For Strome, his journey hasn't been an easy one, but as the pieces continue to come together, he's looking forward to trying to turn it into the ultimate prize yet: a Stanley Cup.

"Just definitely excited, thankful for the opportunity and looking forward to hopefully a lot of games," Strome said, adding, "(I like stats but) I like to win more. It's about the wins now."