Salary Cap: Dylan McIlrath

[BarbaraAlphanse]

while i agree that his game is improving, i have 2 major concerns with mcilrath.

first, is his game suited for the style we play ? i would love a big, mean, crease clearing dman to protect the front of the crease, but he still needs to be mobile. his skating has always been my concern, along with his defensive acumen. like ive always said, im not a big fan of taking a guy high that does his best work standing still.... ala, fighting or playing mean in front of the crease.

secondly, like was said before, this isnt the 80's. mcilrath's best attributes are parts of the game that are being either lessoned by the speed/skill of the overall game or by the league looking to eliminate the brutality of fighting and the whole concussion issue.

im just not sure this guy will ever have enough game to make the kind of impact that gordie envisioned when he snagged him in 2010. im sure hell play and im sure he will carve out a nice career.

just not the career i would envision coming from the 10th pick.

McIlrath could develop into Douglas Murray.

He won't be fast. His speed is as fast as Staal's. But his strength will come from positioning and footwork. His balance has improved. His skating has improved. And most importantly his positioning has improved.

Will he be on the ice where he gets blown away by someone else's speed leading to a goal? Sure. But that's standard. McD even gets those goals against him.

More importantly, McI will be able to clear the crease and save goals through that regard. He'll gain us possession by the sheer fact that opposing players will leave the puck if he's lining them up for a hit. And his big frame will help him block shots and poke pucks away better than other defensemen.

He's slow. But he definitely has NHL attributes.

 

[SupersonicMonkey*]

while i agree that his game is improving, i have 2 major concerns with mcilrath.

first, is his game suited for the style we play ? i would love a big, mean, crease clearing dman to protect the front of the crease, but he still needs to be mobile. his skating has always been my concern, along with his defensive acumen. like ive always said, im not a big fan of taking a guy high that does his best work standing still.... ala, fighting or playing mean in front of the crease.

secondly, like was said before, this isnt the 80's. mcilrath's best attributes are parts of the game that are being either lessoned by the speed/skill of the overall game or by the league looking to eliminate the brutality of fighting and the whole concussion issue.

im just not sure this guy will ever have enough game to make the kind of impact that gordie envisioned when he snagged him in 2010. im sure hell play and im sure he will carve out a nice career.

just not the career i would envision coming from the 10th pick.

Agree with your concerns.

Under Tortorella, McIlrath would have been a perfect fit. Sit back, collapse.

Under Vigneault's quick transition, speed, puck possession, he is not a fit.

I'm fine with Girardi, because most of the time he finds a way to be effective.

 

[SupersonicMonkey*]

My cousin watches most of the AHL games. Don't ask me why. He said McIlrath's skating really improved during the course of last season. That's the one area he needed to work on. The NHL is full of guys who needed a little more time to develop. Boychuk. There's still room for big guys who can play.

This is true, but to have three of those in the lineup while we are trying to be a quick transition, puck possession team relying on speed?

 

[Beacon]

How about directly from Beukeboom that stated he was ready for the NHL?

I'm not a big believer in what the message board guys have to say personally. If they were really good at evaluating players they would be doing it for a living and not giving away the valued opinion for free on a message board.

but that's just my two cents.

Not saying I could be a professional scout, but even if I could, your statement would be false. I make significantly more as an attorney than I ever would as a scout, and I don't have to sleep in cheap motels while traveling with minor leaguers on their bus.

 

[offdacrossbar]

even if he were ready, im not seeing a spot for him right now.

on this team, with this system, mcilrath will require a partner who is both mobile and defensively responsible. preferably left handed playing the left side.

if hes gonna be here, he needs a regular shift on the 3rd pair. if not, he stays in hartford.

the longer hes not here, the more unlikely it is that his choice at 10 was warranted.

 

[chosen]

He got injured and that destroyed his career. Kloucek was a very talented defenseman.

He may have been the hardest bodychecker in the last 50 years of Rangers hockey, and he was mobile.

Never forget 1st game at Garden and he legally checked someone in a way thst made all of the crowd shake their head in amazement.

 

[pld459666]

Beuk says he is ready.

If he is not here next season, is Beuk wrong?

I wouldn't say he was wrong if Dylan wasn't with the Rangers. It's not Beuk's call on who gets the nod to be called up and who doesn't.

They consult with Beuk about readiness and I think the biggest determination of who does and doesn't get called up is who that player is replacing.

if you are looking for a mobile player, Dylan is not the guy you look at. Connor Allen would be that guy.

If you are looking for a bottom pairing guy to provide a bit of physicality and steady defence, then Dylan would be the choice.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

I wouldn't say he was wrong if Dylan wasn't with the Rangers. It's not Beuk's call on who gets the nod to be called up and who doesn't.

They consult with Beuk about readiness and I think the biggest determination of who does and doesn't get called up is who that player is replacing.

if you are looking for a mobile player, Dylan is not the guy you look at. Connor Allen would be that guy.

If you are looking for a bottom pairing guy to provide a bit of physicality and steady defence, then Dylan would be the choice.

It doesnt take a rocket scientist to figure out why Beukeboom likes McIlrath and would sing his praises.

But again, I'd have to seriously question if Beukeboom would've even been able to make it in today's NHL.

 

[pld459666]

It doesnt take a rocket scientist to figure out why Beukeboom likes McIlrath and would sing his praises.

But again, I'd have to seriously question if Beukeboom would've even been able to make it in today's NHL.

Point taken.

however, the fact remains, the guy that is paid to understand his own players and help make the determination of readiness claims the kid is ready, regardless of potential bias, I trust his opinion over any one who posts here on HF

 

[Infinitum Vitae*]

TBH who clears.the crease for the rangers right now? I think when he gets called up he'll end up being Hanks best friend

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

Point taken.

however, the fact remains, the guy that is paid to understand his own players and help make the determination of readiness claims the kid is ready, regardless of potential bias, I trust his opinion over any one who posts here on HF

I would too.

Rangers management doesn't seem to trust it, however. And thats more important than anything

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

TBH who clears.the crease for the rangers right now? I think when he gets called up he'll end up being Hanks best friend

I would also think he'd have PLENTY of opportunities to be clearing the crease if he starts the season with the Rangers.

 

[Infinitum Vitae*]

It doesnt take a rocket scientist to figure out why Beukeboom likes McIlrath and would sing his praises.

But again, I'd have to seriously question if Beukeboom would've even been able to make it in today's NHL.

He was very good on positioning he'd probably be a modern day Girardi

 

[Infinitum Vitae*]

I would also think he'd have PLENTY of opportunities to be clearing the crease if he starts the season with the Rangers.

I don't think he makes it out of camp. He'll end up like Kreider. Staal will get hurt and he'll get the call up

 

[pld459666]

I would too.

Rangers management doesn't seem to trust it, however. And thats more important than anything

and how are you making this determination?

Team was pretty healthy all last year on D, not bringing the kid up to sit in the press box all season.

 

[chosen]

TBH who clears.the crease for the rangers right now? I think when he gets called up he'll end up being Hanks best friend

Don't you think that no matter who stole Hank, that they have since returned him?

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

and how are you making this determination?

Team was pretty healthy all last year on D, not bringing the kid up to sit in the press box all season.

I think the Rangers contacting every RHD available in case Stralman leaves is a pretty good indication they are not ready to hand a spot to McIlrath.

 

[pld459666]

I think the Rangers contacting every RHD available in case Stralman leaves is a pretty good indication they are not ready to hand a spot to McIlrath.

I think that has more to do with the position they are looking to fill in the sense that they are looking for more of a puck moving guy as opposed to stay at home guy.

Had Klein been in Stralman's shoes and was one foot out the door, and NYR Brass was contacting every stay at home guy, I'd have an easier time buying what you are saying.

 

[Infinitum Vitae*]

Don't you think that no matter who stole Hank, that they have since m?

You got to wait a year to change your name so I can't do anything about it but I do agree he has returned

 

[Bluenote13]

Are we talking about the Rangers here? If not, Radko Gudas comes to mind.

Speaking of Gudas... he split time in the AHL/NHL as a 22 year old and broke in as a steady D as a 23 year old. I don't think it's unreasonable to think McIlrath is on the same general development curve.

Gudas, ironically was picked in the same draft as MCI, the difference is he was picked exactly where you want players like this, 3rd round. Like I said many times, we couldve had our cake and eaten too

We should wish the issue away and trust your glowing assessments of his Hartford play, I suppose.

Fact of the matter is, if McIlrath was ready now - 4 years after he was drafted, it would make the Stralman situation a bit easier to deal with. But since McIlrath isn't ready to slot into the 3rd pair to start the season, the whole issues becomes that much murkier. It is what it is, and it'll continue to be discussed whether you like it or not.

I dont think so.

I think the "Shutup about it, hes doing well in Hartford" response is pretty insulting.

I agree, and thats why I always got on Beacon for his Hartford reports. Mcilrath was doing nothing but 'great positioning' up until I spoke up about all the glowing reviews.

And even with all the glowing reviews, this is a player who was never chosen a top 3 star of the game. I'm realistic, I know this is not the kind of player to garner such accolades, but if other players like him can do it so can he if he's that good. But no, no one ever says 'man, that Mcilrath, he was the difference tonight.'

Should have traded for Kristian Kudroc when they had the chance.

Kudroc was also a Gordie Clark pick !

He just can't seem to get a good read on these giants

 

[Cassano]

Can't wait to see him fight. His physicality and tuffness alone are worth a top 10 pick.

 

[offdacrossbar]

Gudas, ironically was picked in the same draft as MCI, the difference is he was picked exactly where you want players like this, 3rd round. Like I said many times, we couldve had our cake and eaten too

so much to this simple post.

this is, in essence, all that is the dylan mcilrath pick. in one simple response.

we could have had a guy like mcilrath and another guy like tarasenko or fowler also.

best player available always seems to work best rather than a love affair reach with a long term project who may end up being nothing special.

 

[Ian]

Yeah, real shame they just couldn't draft that type of defensemen in the 2010 3rd round like everyone else did.

Especially since the 10 d-men drafted in the 2010 3rd round have played a combined 96 games so far, with 95 belonging to Gudas.

 

[chosen]

Can't wait to see him fight. His physicality and tuffness alone are worth a top 10 pick.

If he is a tough guy that brings nothing else, he should have been a free agent acquisition.

Worth a top 10 pick? Not in this dimension.

 

[chosen]

Yeah, real shame they just couldn't draft that type of defensemen in the 2010 3rd round like everyone else did.

Especially since the 10 d-men drafted in the 2010 3rd round have played a combined 96 games so far, with 95 belonging to Gudas.

I think Fowler has played more than one game.