Andrew Gross: Ex-Hurricane D Brett Bellemore is participating in Rangers' informal skates. Coming in on a training camp invite. 6'4, 225. RH. 27 years old. Played with Hurricanes last year. Assets: Can play a physical role from the back end. Generally keeps his game simple and limits mistakes. Is good at pushing the pile in front of the net. Flaws: Is not a very good skater. Also struggles when he has the puck on his stick a bit too much. Doesn't have a lot of offensive acumen for the NHL game. Career Potential: Physical depth defenseman with a little upside. Remind you guys of anybody?
Said last year. I would demand a trade if I was McIlrath. They spit in his face when they signed Boyle and gave him a NTC. His second camp was 10 times better than his first. AV is a stubborn jackass. You saw that all year with Glass who ruined our 4th line.
Id he doesnt make the team...guess what...he wont have to worry about the organization screwing him as he will be a free agent Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk
Not 100% sure they wouldn't be able to send him back down. I know he has to clear waivers, but I heard on NHL radio that any club that picks him up off waivers would HAVE TO keep him on their NHL roster for the remainder of the season without the ability to send him down. Not sure if that is true, but if it is, they may be thinking of exposing him to waivers if necessary. IMO, they have to give him a legit shot this season, if he cant cut it, then trade him. After all the praise from Beuk about him, especially in the playoffs, think he has a shot here....
Don't get all the nonsense with AV and McIlrath, all he has to do is play him 20 games and you'll at least have an idea what you have trade-wise, maybe you find out he's a viable starter. It's always good to have competition in training camp to push the younger players but enough with the retreads already.
New York Rangers @NYRangers 6h6 hours ago #NYR captain @RMcDonagh27 on rookie @dylan_mcilrath: "He's a great kid, works his tail off, it's fun to see him progress as much as he has" 44 retweets190 favorites McD knows if dylan here its a lot safer for him on the ice. I Like him being paired with big mac
Dylan McIlrath is working his butt off. He always has, especially on his skating, particularly after the 2012 knee injury that set him back significantly. "I know I can play," McIlrath said in the locker room on Saturday morning. Vigneault told McIlrath that the coaches know he's tough; now they want to see him thrive in their system with crisp decision-making. McIlrath said he drew a ton of confidence from his play the second half of last season, including his playoff performance, when he maintained his physical play but didn't commit a penalty until late in the postseason, demonstrating his discipline and ability to play at a higher intensity and speed. He said when he played his best in the second half of the season, he did less thinking and more reacting, playing instinctive hockey. He was paired with McDonagh on Saturday and clearly is going to get every chance possible to make his best impression. The organization loves him and clearly is rooting for him to take that next step.
Now that's the McIlrath all Ranger fans want to see on the ice. His size and action will definitely open things up for McD to be part of the offense.
I think McIlrath should have been given the opportunity to play last year when the Rangers went down 3 dmen but AV instead chose to waste that slot on Kostka/Hunwick. Playoff success can sometimes hinge on a player or two and the Rangers sorely needed more physical play from defense last year. Hope he finally gets his chance.
