Dylan McIlrath Has to be on the Trade Block, Right?
The New York Rangers selected Dylan McIlrath with the 10th overall pick in the 2010 draft. The 24 year old McIlrath has played just one game for the Rangers this season, and is consistently a healthy scratch. He has got to be on the trade block by now, right?
Despite being a top 10 pick, McIlrath has played just 38 career games for the Rangers. He played his first game in 2013-2014, but has never become a regular in the lineup. I thought this would be the year McIlrath would become an everyday player because Dan Boyle retired and Keith Yandle was traded to Florida. He has been passed on the depth chart, however, by newcomers Nick Holden and Adam Clendening. This is not good news for McIlrath, and it seems like he's not really wanted in New York. The one game he did play this year, he played less than 10 minutes, and Alain Vigneault benched him after he tried to fight Tomas Hertl of the San Jose Sharks.
I think either Vigneault doesn't like McIlrath and refuses to play him, or the organization as a whole has moved on from him. No matter which case is correct, the Rangers need to look into trading this guy. There are plenty of teams around the NHL looking for help on defense, and I don't see why McIlrath can't be a bottom pair defenseman on a nightly basis. He adds toughness to any lineup and is a career +6, so it's not like he is a huge liability.
The Rangers should be able to get at least a 3rd or 4th round draft pick in return for McIlrath. I don't know why they wouldn't trade him. Clearly they don't want to play him, so why not get something in return. I would say that at this point, if someone calls looking for McIlrath, the Rangers have to at least consider it.
