The ’Rath of gone
Defenseman coping with apparent Rangers exit
If this is it for Dylan McIlrath and the Rangers, the 2010 firstround pick and the fan favorite’s tenure on Broadway is ending with a whimper.
The Blueshirts put McIlrath on waivers Thursday, meaning the rest of the league has until noon Friday to claim him and assume the rest of his one-year, $800,000 deal.
There is a chance everyone passes and he clears, and then the pugilistic defenseman stays with the Rangers organization and can be sent to their AHL affiliate in Hartford.
But the future that was once so bright in New York has quickly become uncertain.
“Obviously disappointed,” McIlrath said after he participated in Thursday’s practice, his team preparing to leave without him for Raleigh, N.C., where it will take on the Hurricanes on Friday night. “A lot of emotions running through my head. Definitely a very emotional day. Obviously it’s not the end of my career by any means, just a bump in the road. So, yeah, tough day.”
McIlrath, 24, played in just one of the team’s first seven games, and was a healthy scratch for the previous five straight.
Even though the roster spot was still available because of some moving pieces and injuries, the situation of McIlrath not playing was becoming untenable.
After last season when he played 34 regular-season games, McIlrath did not look to blame coach Alain Vigneault or say he got short shrift.
“This year I was more disappointed in myself, [not] earning that spot. And I take full onus. I’m never going to blame this on the coaches,” McIlrath said. “This was all about my play and not earning a spot in the lineup.”
Vigneault said that he and general manager Jeff Gorton sat down for a long talk after Wednesday’s 5-2 comeback win over the Bruins at the Garden, and decided this was the best decision.
The first reason was that “Dylan needed to play,” Vigneault said.
The offseason acquisitions of right-side defensemen Nick Holden and Adam Clendening, coupled with McIlrath’s admittedly poor training camp, buried him on the depth chart.
It was clear to all those involved that the 6-foot-5, 236pounder out of Winnipeg had become the team’s eighth defenseman.
After Gorton couldn’t find a viable trade partner, the idea of absorbing his daily salary cap hit while he didn’t see game action no longer made sense.
“We all appreciate him as a person, he’s done everything that has been expected of him and more,” Vigneault said. “Selfishly, I hope he clears waivers and goes to Hartford and plays. But if somebody would pick him up and give him an opportunity, I would be very happy for him.”
As for what McIlrath could improve on, Vigneault cited “puck skills and puck decisions.”
It just seems that the coach so prefers quick skating and offensive-minded defensemen that the bruising and physical McIlrath never fit the mold.
“Maybe it was less about him and more about the other guys this year showing us that they were a little bit better than he is at this time,” Vigneault said. “That doesn’t mean that for some reason he clears waivers, goes to Hartford, goes down there and plays well — things change rapidly in this league.”
It was understandably difficult for McIlrath to fathom the idea of returning to the Rangers, or having an opportunity to play elsewhere (Can you imagine him in a Flyers’ jersey?).
After being drafted, he went through two full years of knee injuries and rehab, and there was only one dream that was pushing him to work through it.
“That’s the toughest thing. It’s getting drafted, from that day forward my main focus was making the Rangers,” McIlrath said. “That’s what I’ve dreamt about for the last six years. So that part is going to be a different experience having to deal with if I do get picked up.”
It’s hard to tell if that’s going to happen, but either way, McIlrath’s time with the Rangers will now always be soured with the memory of this day.
“My goal is to play in the NHL,” he said. “It’s about playing hockey. I was blessed to be with this organization. It doesn’t mean I’m done with this organization. But my main focus is playing in the NHL.”