Value of: Dylan McIlrath

[bernmeister]

Not even. AV killed any value he had.

Last year the Rangers best defense pairing during the regular season was Keith Yandle and Dylan McIlrath. He isn't a star by any stretch, but he's absolutely ready for a bigger role and real NHL minutes. The organization is going to regret trading him within a year.

For future reference, when people call you out for being a poster who has an anti-Rangers bias, it is because of posts like this, where you clearly demonstrate that you have no idea what you are talking about. McIlrath is fine with the puck on his stick. He's actually one of the calmer players on the team and excels at controlled exits out of the zone.

As for this "longer leash" that you think he "hung himself" with, what exactly are you referring to? He only got ONE extended run of games last season. It was due to injury. During that run of games, he was part of what was statistically our best pairing of the season. Even though that pair was playing amazingly well, AV still benched McIlrath in favor of Girardi with his busted kneecap. After that, AV only put McIlrath in for a game here and a game there (including one particularly idiotic game where he tried to play McIlrath as a winger). AV only played McIlrath in one of our five playoff games. It's the one game the Rangers actually won.

He'll never be a top pairing guy, but the second he gets away from AV and onto a team with a coach who will actually reward play rather than "warrior" reputations, he will very likely show himself to be what he was last season when given a chance--a very capable 2nd pairing guy who can cover for a more offensive partner and fire bombs from the point.

For previous examples of AV totally ****ing up his judgement on defensemen, see Michael Del Zotto, Anton Stralman, and Keith Yandle.

What you "observed" bears no resemblance to the player in question, so yeah, I'd say you were mis-judging his play. You literally identified things that are his strengths as weaknesses, and made a comment about him being "given rope that he hung himself with" that, objectively speaking, never happened.

You'll generally find two camps of Rangers fans when it comes to McIlrath, incidentally: those who see him developing into a unique asset and those who will never forgive him for not being Tarasenko. That latter group likes to refer to him as a fringe defenseman. Incidentally, McIlrath outplayed every RHD in camp this preseason save maybe one (Clendenning put up great offensive play but was really shaky on the defensive end). He outplayed Girardi. He outplayed Holden. He outplayed Klein. He outplayed Skjei by a country mile. Yet AV has already told him he's not in the top six. It's a credit to this kid that he hasn't asked for his release yet, because there is literally nothing more he can do here. He will never get a real chance to prove himself under AV.

Bottom line is that you are incorrect about him not being able to handle the puck. You are incorrect about him ever being given any kind of rope.

If AV does succeed in getting the team to move McIlrath, then I truly believe that yet another team will be the beneficiary of AV's inability to tell good defensemen from bad. I think that would be a huge mistake, because I'd be shocked if AV still had a job by Christmas.

He hasn't been a disaster either. He also hasn't had any real opportunity other than that brief run with Yandle. And none of Yandle's OTHER partners performed as well with him. As for issues in the neutral zone, he does have a bit of a problem in transition but that's the kind of thing that can be fixed with time. He actually does contribute offensively. He put up a couple of beauts in the preseason, including one where he walked the blue line and just fired a rocket into the net. He's never going to be mistaken for a PMD, but that shot of his is big enough and dangerous enough that it will force teams to respect it (drawing them out a bit and opening up space). The Rangers have been looking for a shot like that for literally more than a decade (since before Kalinin).

I would agree that McIlrath would look even better in a system other than AV's, but I'm also of the opinion that AV's system is the biggest problem the Rangers have right now (because if pre-season showed anything, it was that AV learned nothing from last year's 87 game debacle).

AV has already been allowed to run three good defensemen out of town. It's time for a new coach and a real opportunity. The team needs the former, and McIlrath has earned the latter.

Bottom line is that this is a player who has improved every year. We always knew he was going to be a project player. The project is finally paying off, and AV wants to get rid of him because he idiotically thinks Girardi is a first pairing defenseman.

Wasn't he better than Cam Fowler like 8-9 months ago, as per Rangers fans?

Rangers should lose AV, keep McIlrath
IF IF IF IF IF IF IF IF IF IF IF IF IF IF IF
every single other avenue were closed, Girardi would be bought out before exp draft.

Stupid to lose McIl value but cutting him cheap now.

Staal I don't see bought out, but I could see Staal moved at 3-4m depending on the return.

Although that is the other side, that is still a roster spot, and some of NY guys can go either side.

Staal moving alternatively would likewise = roster space

 

[TGWL]

But his observations about the puck looking like a grenade on his stick, ...that's not exactly far off from the truth.

Agreed with the post about him having a bad Preseason. Is he the odd man out? I don't know. Skjei can be sent down, although he did look more comfortable depending on his d-partner. His trade value is pretty low I'd say. Might be better to risk him clearing waivers.

 

[Warden of the North]

Josh Leivo (scoring winger)

 

[TGWL]

Rangers should lose AV, keep McIlrath
IF IF IF IF IF IF IF IF IF IF IF IF IF IF IF
every single other avenue were closed, Girardi would be bought out before exp draft.

Stupid to lose McIl value but cutting him cheap now.

Staal I don't see bought out, but I could see Staal moved at 3-4m depending on the return.

Although that is the other side, that is still a roster spot, and some of NY guys can go either side.

Staal moving alternatively would likewise = roster space

Staal isn't moving right now. Despite his salary and vision, Dylan can't come close to being as good as Staal, and never will. The salary is not good, nor is having to over use Staal in bad situations. If we're cutting Staal, it's for the money, not to clear a roster spot.

 

[haveandare]

But his observations about the puck looking like a grenade on his stick, ...that's not exactly far off from the truth.

Agreed with the post about him having a bad Preseason. Is he the odd man out? I don't know. Skjei can be sent down, although he did look more comfortable depending on his d-partner. His trade value is pretty low I'd say. Might be better to risk him clearing waivers.

He's been hot and cold with the puck on his stick in preseason. He's flubbed easy passes sometimes but also made some excellent and difficult breakouts other times. Imo he is at the very least unarguably better with the puck than G, who we seem to be committed to paying way more to do way less while shopping mci.

 

[Mikos87]

Josh Leivo (scoring winger)

Deal!

He's really good friends with your franchise piece on the back end. McIlrath will crack a skull if anyone messes with his boy.

 

[Mikos87]

Anyone remember when he was a future top pairing D who will put up 30+ points a season after he had a couple good games last year?

He basically needs to play next to a really good puck moving left D. He and Yandle were a really good combo.

There were some real coaching cramps with this guy. He will surprise you in the offensive zone.

 

[Mrs Crosby's Dryer]

Would love to have him as a 7th D on the buttery soft Pens, but there's zero chance of that happening.

Actually he isn't too terrible in limited use situations, so maybe a change of scenery out West (for a late pick or struggling project forward) might do both teams some good.

 

[Juxtaposer]

I'm honestly confused. Why is McIlrath on the outs? He'll never be anything special but he seemed like a serviceable bottom pairing RHD, cheap too?

 

[MissionCanucksFan]

Well for some reason it looks like he is going to be traded. What do you think he can fetch?

Alex Burrows....straight across

AV would be on board with that

 

[Boreal]

I'd actually like to get Dylan back home in Winnipeg. Tough to make it work with roster management, but in a vacuum I'd be interested.

 

[One Winged Angel]

I'm honestly confused. Why is McIlrath on the outs? He'll never be anything special but he seemed like a serviceable bottom pairing RHD, cheap too?

Because AV doesn't like him and thinks he doesn't fit in with his system.

It's a joke, honestly. I would sit Girardi.

 

[smoneil]

I'm honestly confused. Why is McIlrath on the outs? He'll never be anything special but he seemed like a serviceable bottom pairing RHD, cheap too?

AV has never liked him. Verified insiders have said as much. His use of McIlrath last year showed as much. McIlrath outplayed Holden, Girardi, and Skjei in pre-season. He was on par with Klein. Clendenning showed well offensively, but looked rough defensively. That should put McIlrath as AT WORST the 3rd RD. AV told him he's #8.

Not a surprise on AV's part. When he doesn't like a player, he has a history of torching them until they get run out of town (he did something very similar with Del Zotto, he made Yandle not want to be in NY, and he thought that Staal was carrying Stralman).

I'd rather fire AV than lose ANOTHER good defenseman for peanuts.

 

[rt]

Z.Michalek@50%+'17 4th+'18 4th

 

[Machinehead]

I'm honestly confused. Why is McIlrath on the outs? He'll never be anything special but he seemed like a serviceable bottom pairing RHD, cheap too?

 

[Machinehead]

Because AV doesn't like him and thinks he doesn't fit in with his system.

It's a joke, honestly. I would sit Girardi.

The only thing that fits in with AV's system is a decapitated chicken on red bull.

 

[Gardner McKay]

I'm honestly confused. Why is McIlrath on the outs? He'll never be anything special but he seemed like a serviceable bottom pairing RHD, cheap too?

He has shown that he didn't look out of place in our top 4 in the few times he was there. He did well in a bottom 6 role. Why is he on the outs? I would be shocked if there was one Rangers fan on HF that said anything besides "I have no idea" or "ask the coach". I have never been so baffled by a mistreatment of a player by a coach.

FWIW, I am not one of those that normally thinks I know better than the coach or GM. But in this case, I really have to agree with my fellow Rangers fans. There is no reason McIlrath shouldn't be on the 3rd pairing right now and in a top 4 role by the end of the season.

The only thing that fits in with AV's system is a decapitated chicken on red bull.

So take Tanner Glass and give him Ryan Hollwegs skating? Sadly, you are right.

 

[Bob Clarke Fan Club]

Should be able to get at least a 3rd for Wayne's punching bag.

 

[haveandare]

AV has never liked him. Verified insiders have said as much. His use of McIlrath last year showed as much. McIlrath outplayed Holden, Girardi, and Skjei in pre-season. He was on par with Klein. Clendenning showed well offensively, but looked rough defensively. That should put McIlrath as AT WORST the 3rd RD. AV told him he's #8.

Not a surprise on AV's part. When he doesn't like a player, he has a history of torching them until they get run out of town (he did something very similar with Del Zotto, he made Yandle not want to be in NY, and he thought that Staal was carrying Stralman).

I'd rather fire AV than lose ANOTHER good defenseman for peanuts.

Me too. I can't wait for AV to be gone. He was supposed to be "different" this year but we're still playing man to man, still force feeding G top minutes,and still playing anyone alive over McI despite how he performs.

We've wasted more than enough time having AV show he's not good enough to win, and more specifically that he has no idea how to evaluate talent in modern dmen.

 

[Mikos87]

McIlrath for Corrado?

 

[bernmeister]

But his observations about the puck looking like a grenade on his stick, ...that's not exactly far off from the truth.

Agreed with the post about him having a bad Preseason. Is he the odd man out? I don't know. Skjei can be sent down, although he did look more comfortable depending on his d-partner. His trade value is pretty low I'd say. Might be better to risk him clearing waivers.

giving away a valuable asset - we can all have varying opinions about how much value - is less than poor asset mgmt. Clearly not smart, it is begging a description of stupid.

Staal isn't moving right now. Despite his salary and vision, Dylan can't come close to being as good as Staal, and never will. The salary is not good, nor is having to over use Staal in bad situations. If we're cutting Staal, it's for the money, not to clear a roster spot.

not shockingly total disagree
Yes, from shortly after he first got here, he was once the best pure shutdown D in the league, Not best, just shutdown specialist extraordinaire.
Then Staal got injured, the worst being the eye injury, IMO
He is now merely serviceable/+

Dylan will never be Marc in his prime, but his skill set fits a need, whether it is bottom or 2nd pair, every club can use 1 guy who can clear the crease, and it's a plus if he is also your go to enforcer.
Rangers have nobody else besides Kreider who can finish what somebody else starts, and he is too valuable to risk in a fight by getting his hand broken, or similar.

As to the here and now, nearly every Ranger fan - I mean 100% of what comes to mind - is saying it should be Girardi who goes, or if that is not do-abe at this point, who is told to sit every game, rather than lose McIlrath esp for bupkis

He's been hot and cold with the puck on his stick in preseason. He's flubbed easy passes sometimes but also made some excellent and difficult breakouts other times. Imo he is at the very least unarguably better with the puck than G, who we seem to be committed to paying way more to do way less while shopping mci.

like I said^

I'm honestly confused. Why is McIlrath on the outs? He'll never be anything special but he seemed like a serviceable bottom pairing RHD, cheap too?

asked...

Because AV doesn't like him and thinks he doesn't fit in with his system.

It's a joke, honestly. I would sit Girardi.

.... and answered

AV has never liked him. Verified insiders have said as much. His use of McIlrath last year showed as much. McIlrath outplayed Holden, Girardi, and Skjei in pre-season. He was on par with Klein. Clendenning showed well offensively, but looked rough defensively. That should put McIlrath as AT WORST the 3rd RD. AV told him he's #8.

Not a surprise on AV's part. When he doesn't like a player, he has a history of torching them until they get run out of town (he did something very similar with Del Zotto, he made Yandle not want to be in NY, and he thought that Staal was carrying Stralman).

I'd rather fire AV than lose ANOTHER good defenseman for peanuts.

concur entirely esp with the conclusion
AV can kiss my gluteus maximus

He has shown that he didn't look out of place in our top 4 in the few times he was there. He did well in a bottom 6 role. Why is he on the outs? I would be shocked if there was one Rangers fan on HF that said anything besides "I have no idea" or "ask the coach". I have never been so baffled by a mistreatment of a player by a coach.

FWIW, I am not one of those that normally thinks I know better than the coach or GM. But in this case, I really have to agree with my fellow Rangers fans. There is no reason McIlrath shouldn't be on the 3rd pairing right now and in a top 4 role by the end of the season. ...

Me too. I can't wait for AV to be gone. He was supposed to be "different" this year but we're still playing man to man, still force feeding G top minutes,and still playing anyone alive over McI despite how he performs.

We've wasted more than enough time having AV show he's not good enough to win, and more specifically that he has no idea how to evaluate talent in modern dmen.

preachin to da choir, boys!

 

[wreckage]

Griffin Reinhart

 

[tinfish]

Griffin Reinhart

Let's not sell the farm.

 

[TGWL]

giving away a valuable asset - we can all have varying opinions about how much value - is less than poor asset mgmt. Clearly not smart, it is begging a description of stupid.




not shockingly total disagree
Yes, from shortly after he first got here, he was once the best pure shutdown D in the league, Not best, just shutdown specialist extraordinaire.
Then Staal got injured, the worst being the eye injury, IMO
He is now merely serviceable/+

Dylan will never be Marc in his prime, but his skill set fits a need, whether it is bottom or 2nd pair, every club can use 1 guy who can clear the crease, and it's a plus if he is also your go to enforcer.
Rangers have nobody else besides Kreider who can finish what somebody else starts, and he is too valuable to risk in a fight by getting his hand broken, or similar.

As to the here and now, nearly every Ranger fan - I mean 100% of what comes to mind - is saying it should be Girardi who goes, or if that is not do-abe at this point, who is told to sit every game, rather than lose McIlrath esp for bupkis

But not at the expense of losing somebody who is simply much better. Again, if we're talking how to clear cap, agreed Staal needs to go. From the stand point of moving Staal, and shifting players around just so Dylan can play? Absolutely not.

 

[KingDeathMetal]

His value is shot to hell if the Rangers are serious about putting him on the trade market, but for those crapping on him...this kid has never really been given the opportunity to excel. All he's done at every level since drafted is improve his play, defensively and offensively. Skating isn't his strong point, but he has significantly improved from where he was at. His ability to get the puck out of the zone with a good first pass has dramatically improved. His shot...has always been awesome.

The kid can play. The only time he was ever given a regular opportunity, he excelled. You might credit that to Yandle, but plenty of other d-men on our team got to play with Yandle and McIlrath fit the best with him.

The real issue here is why the HELL a team like the Rangers, who have so little depth on RD, are not giving a regular opportunity to a big, young RD who to this point has played well in the minutes he was given?

For any teams out there who need RD and don't have the resources to acquire somebody who is established, 100% make a deal for McIlrath and give him a shot. I really believe this kid, if given a chance, will be solid for many years, and has potential to be a serviceable middle pairing RD, third pairing at the very least.

X-factors: he works extremely hard despite having injury and lineup-related setbacks. Doesn't sulk, doesn't complain despite AV screwing him over constantly, he just keeps improving, having good games, and his teammates love him.

I'm sure a low pick could get the deal done, but it sucks for Ranger fans. I think a team is going to add him and be pleasantly surprised.