The NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced Monday evening that Capitals’ defenseman Dylan McIlrath has been suspended for two preseason games and two regular season games for his hit to the head on Bruins’ forward Steven Fogarty in Sunday night’s preseason game against the Boston Bruins.
The play occurred at the beginning of the third period in Sunday night’s 3-2 shootout loss to the Bruins.
Dylan McIlrath gets 5 and a game. Doesn’t look good for Fogarty #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/MgCOI6L2L8
— Spoked Z (@SpokedZ) September 26, 2021
McIlrath was signed by the Capitals to a two-year, two-way contract (2021-22: $750,000/450,000; 2022-23: $750,000/475,000) on July 28.
The NHL’s Department of Player Safety’s explanation:
McIlrath, 29, recorded eight points (2g, 6a) in 29 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League (AHL) last season. The 6’4″, 235-pound defenseman ranked third among Griffins defensemen in points, while his 70 penalty minutes were tied for the most among all AHL defensemen last season.
The Winnipeg native has played in 66 combined NHL games with the New York Rangers, the Florida Panthers and the Detroit Red Wings, recording five points (3g, 2a) and 121 penalty minutes.
By Jon Sorensen