Also you dont think other teams will go after him to drop the gloves and get him off the ice? It hasnt stopped 2 players from taking cheap shots on his teammates in the limited games HE HAS PLAYED. So again i ask, is he more than your protector...because to me that role shouldnt be on the blue line.
Fighting continues to become more and more limited in the league so it shouldn't be the reasoning for having somebody out there anyway.
His role is to use his toughness and grit to clear the crease, Mage big hits (which he does), and protect his teammates.
I don't think McIlrath is purely a goon but his play time has been so limited that it's hard to assess his talent but he has size and strength our current defensive unit lacks. From an organizational standpoint it makes zero sense to keep him planted after the investment made.
