I feel confident stating this team isn't going anywhere.

McIlrath had a bad camp. I believe he was nervous and didn't quite understand that you have to think really fast on the NHL level. However, putting him with a good, veteran defenseman partner at the AHL was incredible smart. You can see how badly this team needs him and how he absolutely was the right pick. If he played in that game, Lucic would have had one cross check and then they would have been throwing. It's as simple as that. The Rangers don't lack team toughness. What they lack is the one guy who can play a regular shift that can police morons like Lucic and McIlrath is that guy.