Dylan McIlrath Has Chance to Step Up for Battered and Bruised Blueshirts

There’s a saying that goes, “When it rains it pours,” and right now the New York Rangers’ blue line is covered with rain clouds, thunder and lightning.

The Rangers have lost captain Ryan McDonagh for the foreseeable future, as he separated his shoulder after being checked into the boards by Evander Kane:

Kevin Klein was also knocked out of the Blueshirts’ contest against the Winnipeg Jets, and both defenders join Dan Boyle on the injury list.

In addition to the three injuries, John Moore is currently serving a suspension for a hit delivered to Erik Haula during a game against the Minnesota Wild, so the Rangers will be without him as well.

With four of the Rangers' top six defenders not in a condition to play, it could be time for the Blueshirts to call up prospect Dylan McIlrath from the Hartford Wolf Pack.

The Rangers’ 2010 first-round draft pick has spent his time exclusively in Hartford since leaving the Moose Jaw Warriors, and at age 22, the time for him to get his start is now. McIlrath should be a likely candidate to be recalled, but the Rangers may try to make a trade instead.

According to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, the Blueshirts have interest in Andrej Sekera of the Carolina Hurricanes:

That is a situation that could gain some traction in the coming days, but for now it is safe to focus on McIlrath.

Given the current situation with the Rangers' blue line, McIlrath could be a suitable replacement for Klein. McIlrath is a 6'5", 220-pound behemoth of a defender who can play physical and is pretty decent in his own zone.

McIlrath would be playing on the third defense pairing and should be able to handle that at this stage of the game. He would need to eat some minutes, be responsible in his own end and not take any stupid penalties.

That's about the size of it, and a 22-year-old defender should be able to do that.

During the preseason, McIlrath got a chance to prove himself and was a serviceable defender for the most part. His skating looked a lot better, he was more confident with the puck on his stick and he even showcased his howitzer of a slap shot.

He hasn't played like a No. 10 overall draft pick, but he's shown enough as a player to earn a call-up.

The fact that he was picked 10th overall back in 2010 still remains an unsolved mystery to this day, but we have to cut the Scooby Doo gang a break every now and then.

While McIlrath may not be living up to his draft spot, he's an option right now, and he's right-handed. At this juncture, that is something of note because head coach Alain Vigneault likes to have balanced pairings.

Other likely call-ups include Conor Allen and Mat Bodie, but both are left-handed. Both have had a nice offensive start for the Wolf Pack and may be called upon to fill McDonagh's spot in the lineup. At this point, the Rangers are in a major bind and need bodies.

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If the Blueshirts opt not to recall McIlrath, that may speak volumes about his future with the team. 

With three of the Rangers' top six defenders injured—and one suspended—it would really send a message if the team were to deem that Michael Kostka is more deserving of a long look on the back end than McIlrath.

Prospects start to graduate once they get a taste of NHL action, so unfortunately it could be now or never for McIlrath. It remains to be seen how the Blueshirts will address their dire need at defense, but it goes without saying that this could be the opportunity that McIlrath has been waiting for.