We all did except RD and the dude from CO.

Still wouldn't mind seeing that shot on a PP.
- mdw7413

Exactly, myself included, all thought McIlrath was going to wind up being a complete and total bust of a draft pick.

He may not ever be anything more than a solid defender but if he can do that, for about ten years or so, I'll consider that a job well done.

Sorry, read it quick, all I saw was playing with a tree and stuff all over my hands..
- mdw7413

Only one defensemen over 20 minutes tonight and that was the captain.

McIlrath almost got 17 minutes played; very refreshing to see this kid proving pretty much everyone wrong.

At this point, last year, how many people thought this kid was Jessiman 2.0?
- MidnightMarauder

He looked confused last year. Looks great now. After tonight's game AV has to be in a conundrum once Klein returns. He can't deny McIlrath ice any longer.

I'll gladly eat crow, I had him pegged a flop 2 years ago. Upside is def there, that knee injury really wrecked him for a couple years but he's got the goods.
- B2B76

He has potential to be much more than a depth defender. He looks like he can keep up with today's pace and has an underrated shot form the point.

Can't understate how happy I am that he looks like an everyday NHL defensemen.

He looked confused last year. Looks great now. After tonight's game AV has to be in a conundrum once Klein returns. He can't deny McIlrath ice any longer.
- Fenrir

No conundrum, leave Girardi out as long as possible.

Listen, I am through with the eye test as a barometer, Girardi is failing on almost every measuring stick you can stack him up to. McIlrath is helping this team now more than Girardi. Professional sports, individual player loyalty and success don't always relate.

Vigneault has to stop showing blind loyalty to his favorites, and veterans alike, and do what's actually right for the team.

Girardi's place, as a regular, is all but up.

- rangerdanger94

Hahahaha.

Can't lie, you definitely were #6's biggest defender.

He had THREE major knee injuries actually
- rangerdanger94

Thought it was only one. Wow! I just question the longevity his career might have after being cut open that much. Kid plays hard.

No conundrum, leave Girardi out as long as possible.

Listen, I am through with the eye test as a barometer, Girardi is failing on almost every measuring stick you can stack him up to. McIlrath is helping this team now more than Girardi. Professional sports, individual player loyalty and success don't always relate.

Vigneault has to stop showing blind loyalty to his favorites, and veterans alike, and do what's actually right for the team.

Girardi's place, as a regular, is all but up.
- MidnightMarauder

Let him rot in the pressbox for the next 5 years?

- rangerdanger94

Let him rot in the pressbox for the next 5 years?
- TPC

Bench him until he gets fed up and asks for a trade. Players have a lot of pride and if he continues to be a healthy scratch, love for the team and the city only goes so far, he will eventually ask out.

Either that or buy him out. Listen, I appreciate what he did for the team, for the majority of his time here, but good teams know when to cut the cord and go with the youth.

Now is that time with Girardi; he is just not a good defensemen anymore.

Sean Hartnett ‏@HartnettHockey 3m3 minutes ago
#NYR Dylan McIlrath said he's giving his first goal puck to RD

- rangerdanger94

You got lucky

"And as I sip my coke that someone most likely spit in"

No conundrum, leave Girardi out as long as possible.

Listen, I am through with the eye test as a barometer, Girardi is failing on almost every measuring stick you can stack him up to. McIlrath is helping this team now more than Girardi. Professional sports, individual player loyalty and success don't always relate.

Vigneault has to stop showing blind loyalty to his favorites, and veterans alike, and do what's actually right for the team.

Girardi's place, as a regular, is all but up.
- MidnightMarauder

I think G needs a break. Sure, he is an Ironman, but he really needs to spend some time in the pressbox.

Exactly, myself included, all thought McIlrath was going to wind up being a complete and total bust of a draft pick.

He may not ever be anything more than a solid defender but if he can do that, for about ten years or so, I'll consider that a job well done.
- MidnightMarauder

Testament to the kid's hard work, definitely not the lumpy mold of poop that arrived in Hartford

I think G needs a break. Sure, he is an Ironman, but he really needs to spend some time in the pressbox.
- Fenrir

Get him healthy and ready to get back to war

I think G needs a break. Sure, he is an Ironman, but he really needs to spend some time in the pressbox.
- Fenrir

He's taken a beating mostly during the Tortorella years. It has caught up to him and has affected his level of play.

He needs to sit, period.

Testament to the kid's hard work, definitely not the lumpy mold of poop that arrived in Hartford
- KreiderBomb

His knee injuries delayed his progress as a pro.

Even when Stepan comes back were 1 foward shy when healthy for a complete top 9. Stalberg/Fast/Etem all can't fill that spot on the 3rd line to balance the lines. I think Stepan will come back and center Kreider and Lindberg with Brass/Nash/Zucc staying together. That leaves Miller/Hayes/X. Etem played 6 minutes tonight, the coaches have no confidence in him. McIlrath is a beast and even when Klein comes back should not be out of the lineup. Rotate the D and let the guy that's a little banged up get some extra rest. If they think Buchnevich is coming over when his season is over stand pat. But if they don't think he's coming I think we need to make a trade to aquire a 3rd line winger.

Get him healthy and ready to get back to war
- KreiderBomb

Yea I'm not ready to close the book on G yet. He's been hit or miss this year but he's had stretches where he's been the best shutdown guy on the ice and this recent poor stretch coincides with his injury. I think he's still an important piece and will find his groove as the season progresses.

Yea I'm not ready to close the book on G yet. He's been hit or miss this year but he's had stretches where he's been the best shutdown guy on the ice and this recent poor stretch coincides with his injury. I think he's still an important piece and will find his groove as the season progresses.
- rangerdanger94

I think he's been affected by his off season surgery since the season started and this new injury just compounds it.

They really need to do the right thing and let him get 100% healthy before he gets in the lineup again, with Klein healthy there is no need to rush

I think he's been affected by his off season surgery since the season started and this new injury just compounds it.

They really need to do the right thing and let him get 100% healthy before he gets in the lineup again, with Klein healthy there is no need to rush
- jimbro83

With McIlrath playing so solidly there really is no need to get Girardi, back in the lineup, even when his knee is fully healed.

Girardi looks fried even before the knee injury. Let him fully rest and recharge for weeks on end.

No matter what, Girardi is here until the end of this season. No matter what.

They can't buy him out until the summer, he has absolutely zero trade value at this time even if he didn't have a NMC and because of the NMC, they can't send him to Hartford.

He's here, they aren't going to healthy scratch him into trading him. Who the heck is going to want a 31 year old Dan Girardi with 4 years and 22 million on his contract still to go after this year?

The only sensible plan is to let him get 100% healthy and then probably rotate him and Boyle in and out of the lineup.

No matter what, Girardi is here until the end of this season. No matter what.

They can't buy him out until the summer, he has absolutely zero trade value at this time even if he didn't have a NMC and because of the NMC, they can't send him to Hartford.

He's here, they aren't going to healthy scratch him into trading him. Who the heck is going to want a 31 year old Dan Girardi with 4 years and 22 million on his contract still to go after this year?

The only sensible plan is to let him get 100% healthy and then probably rotate him and Boyle in and out of the lineup.
- jimbro83

The most likely scenario is Girardi becomes healthy and enters the lineup on a permanent basis and McIlrath/Boyle continue to rotate in as the 6th D.