New York Rangers Deal Dylan McIlrath to Florida Panthers for Steven Kampfer and Conditional Pick
The Florida Panthers acquired Dylan McIlrath from the New York Rangers on Tuesday in exchange for Steven Kampfer and a conditional seventh round, pick in the 2018 National Hockey League Entry Draft.
McIlrath, the 10th round pick of the Rangers in the 2010 NHL Draft was sent to New York’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Hartford Wolfpack, after clearing waivers on October 28. This season the Blueshirts were only able to squeeze him into just one game.
During the 2015-2016 NHL season, McIlrath patrolled the blue line, 34 times, as he put up two goals and two assists with a plus-7 rating as a rookie.
Rangers general manager, Scott Gorton said, “We drafted him in 2010. He is a great kid. He is a guy that deserves a chance to play in the league.”
He continued, “This is a team that has been calling me for a while about him. It is a fresh start for him and we will see where it goes. At the same time, we have had Kampfer before. We like his speed. We like his skill level. We think he is someone we think can help us along the way here. We will see about getting a pick down the road.”
Kampfer, 28, has been a healthy scratch in 12 out of the last 13 games for the Panthers. The fourth-round selection of the Anaheim Ducks in the 2007 NHL Draft, has scored nine goals and 23 assists in 134 games between the Boston Bruins, Minnesota Wild and Panthers.
During the summer of 2014, the Rangers signed Kampfer to a one-year, two-way deal but later traded him to Florida with Andrew Yogan on October 6, 2014 for Joey Crabb.
In speaking about Kampfer, Gorton said, “We think he is going to help us. He is a guy that can skate. He is a guy that can make that first pass. I think along the way, here on defense we are going to need six, seven guys, so I think it is going to help us.”
If McIlrath plays at least 30 games for the Cats, this season the Rangers will receive a seventh round pick in 2018 entry draft as part of the deal.
