Dylan McIlrath

April 2018 – McIlrath had a decent season for the Griffins, putting up 17 points and 119 penalty minutes in 76 games played. The big defenceman will only have some fantasy hockey value in deep leagues that count penalty minutes and only in the off chance he gets a call-up. Mark Hillier

September 2017 – It was definitely a roller coaster of a season for the young, physical defender. After being traded twice last season, McIlrath found himself on the Grand Rapids Griffins where he ended up winning the Calder Cup. On June 28th he signed a two year contract extension with Detroit. He finished last season with one point with 14 penalty minutes in six NHL games, eight points with 81 penalty minutes in 43 AHL games and 5 points with 25 penalty minutes in 19 AHL playoff games. The young rearguard will likely never be a point producer but he definitely knows how to rack up penalty minutes. With Red Wings’ coach Jeff Blashill pushing for the team to sign Luke Witkowski earlier this Summer, his added toughness likely prevents a need for the team to call up McIlrath unless the younger defender proves to be more reliable than Witkowski or the injuries really build up on the big club. With younger defensive prospects with higher upside looking to move up the depth chart in Detroit, McIlrath will be tough to ever earn a full time spot with the Red Wings. Jameson Ewasiuk

February 2017 – After a five game stint with the Panthers, McIlrath was put on waivers and ultimately sent down to Springfield earlier this month. A once promising first round prospect, McIlrath’s NHL career is off to a rocky start, as he is looking more and more like a career fringe NHL defenseman. He will need to be given a real opportunity at the NHL level before joining the fantasy conversation. Joel Gluss

November 2016 – Coming out of training camp, McIlrath was the odd man out on the Rangers’ back end.  After clearing waivers and spending some time in the AHL, he was dealt to the Florida Panthers for prospect Steven Kampfer and a conditional pick.  In his fifth pro season, the large stay-at-home defenseman needs to make the most of this opportunity in south Florida to preserve any sort of fantasy value longer term. Geoff Kent

July 2016 – Clearly wanting to see more from the hulking D-Man than he’s shown so far, the Rangers signed the former 10th overall draft pick to a one-year, $800,000 contract, avoiding an arbitration hearing. McIlrath, possibly on the cusp of becoming a full-time NHL blueliner, has played in only 37 big-league games and is looking like he’s going to be a bottom-pairing man rather than a big-minutes shutdown defender, although he still has time to evolve at 24. Mark Allan

February 2016 – It has been a bumpy road for the Rangers’ 2010 first-round pick. After playing three full seasons in the AHL with the Wolfpack, and a few games sprinkled in with the Rangers, McIlrath is starting to make some strides in the right direction. After making the Rangers directly out of camp, he has been in and out of the lineup, mostly depending on matchups. In the 20 games he has found his way into the lineup, he has managed to find the back of the net once, and add two assists. His confidence is increasing every game, which is a good sign for the Rangers, who left him in the minors to develop for the previous three seasons. This positive trend bodes well for both the Ranger organization and McIlrath, who is in a make-or-break type season. As far as statistics go, he will never be a big offensive threat, scoring a point here or there. Most of the minutes he is receiving are on the penalty kill or in defensive situations. His large frame provides him the ability to fill lanes and win battles along the wall, whichis why the Rangers are keeping him around as a sixth or seventh defenseman. Depending on how he finishes this season, we will have a better understanding if he is capable of taking on a top-four defensive role. Bryan Puffer

July 2015 – After the disappointing first half, McIlrath picked up his game late last season. He was the best defenseman in Hartford. McIlrath is a big, strong crease clearer defenseman. He also has excellent straight away speed, a solid wrist shot and sees the ice well. The Undertaker is physically dominant, lays out big hits if he has the opportunity. McIlrath has to improve his decision making and needs to play a more disciplined game. He’s very good on the penalty kill, really strong in front of the net and never loses board battles. He competes hard every shift, and his development is on the right track. McIlrath never will be an offensive weapon, but the NHL forwards wouldn’t like to play against him. He just signed a one-year extension with the Rangers and if he can put together a good performance in the Training Camp in September, then he will stick with the big team as a seventh defenseman, because he is waiver eligible. Jozsef Kurtosi

December 2014 – Defensemen usually take longer to develop, but McIlrath has never looked the same since his knee injury. He is improving a little bit every year, but he has not performed up to expectations in the AHL. He has played in 31 games for Hartford but has only contributed four assists, with 55 penalty minutes and is a minus-10. McIlrath is playing top-pairing minutes in Hartford like last season, but partnering with the offensive-minded puck-mover Mat Bodie. He needs a more defensively responsible line-mate and needs to improve his skating and his decision making. Right now he looks like a career AHL defenseman, nothing more. There is a chance he could be dealt at the NHL trade deadline for veteran help.Jozsef Kurtosi

May 2014 – Rangers drafted McIlrath in 2010 as a four year project. Accordingly, The Undertaker spent the last four years in the minor leagues and it appears that next season will be a make or break year for him. Last season his knee injury was a setback in his progression, but in the 2013-14 AHL season he played top pairing minutes at even strength and he was an important part of Wolf Pack’s penalty killing unit. His overall game steadily improved but needs to start showing some dominance in his own zone. He is a crease clearing defenseman and every NHL team needs that type of player. The New York Rangers have four right-handed shooting defensemen but there are two potential spots opening up if  Anton Stralman out prices himself in New York and Rafael Diaz leaves town. If these two leave the Big Apple, there is an opportunity for McIlrath to earn a spot on the Rangers blueline in 2014-15. Jozsef Kurtosi

January 2014 – Four years after being selected as a high first rounder, the Rangers are yet to get significant use of their investment. It’s been a slow growing experience for the big man whose size was above pro quality leaving junior, but his development has been interrupted a couple times with knee injuries. With the management on Broadway moving out Del Zotto recently, rumors of Dan Girardi leaving also and Anton Stralman underperforming, the Rangers seem ready to move forward with Coner Allen and McIlrath in the near future. Penalty minute hounds take notice. Jason Banks

March 2013 – A dislocated knee in December sidetracked McIlraith, but otherwise he’s been as advertised – huge, tough, and gritty. He’s looking more and more like a future enforcer, assuming that role is still around in three years. Dobber

April 2012 – He is a big, bruising defender and one of the most feared enforcers in the WHL. In 52 games he put up 23 points for the Moose Jaw Warriors. After being criticized for his lackluster skating and less than impressive offensive skills, he has improved a bit in both areas to become a complete defenseman.  If he can continue to grow as a player he could become a second or third pairing, shutdown guy in the NHL. Zenon Herasymiuk