Photo: Charlotte Checkers
The Washington Capitals announced Wednesday afternoon that they have recalled defenseman Dylan McIlrath from Hershey.
MORE FROM THE CAPITALS
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have recalled defenseman Dylan McIlrath from the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today.
McIlrath, Hershey’s captain, has recorded 10 assists in 44 games with the Bears this season. The 6’5″, 232-pound defenseman leads Hershey with 83 penalty minutes and his 10 assists are the fourth most among Bears defensemen.
The Winnipeg, Manitoba native has played 66 career NHL games with the New York Rangers, Florida Panthers and Detroit Red Wings, recording five points (3g, 2a) and 121 penalty minutes. In 544 career AHL games with Hershey, Grand Rapids, Hartford, Springfield and Connecticut, McIlrath has recorded 110 points (27g, 83a) and 1,085 penalty minutes. Additionally, McIlrath won the 2017 Calder Cup with the Grand Rapid Griffins. McIlrath was selected by the Rangers in the first round, 10th overall, in the 2010 NHL Draft.
Alex Ovechkin, away from the team indefinitely due to the death of his father, has been designated as a “non-roster player” due to his leave of absence from the team, opening up the roster spot for McIlrath.
As per the NHL/NHLPA’s collective bargaining agreement (CBA), a player can be moved to non-roster player designation when a player is “unavailable to play due to reasons other than injury, illness or disability.”
The team did not provide any additional information regarding potential injuries or change in status for any of the other current Capitals players.
Dylan McIlrath lays the big hit and answers the call. #HBH pic.twitter.com/LBnwU7swRP
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) November 7, 2021
McIlrath, 6’5”, 230, has been a steadying force for the Bears this season, and provides a big physical presence in the crease. McIlrath is a steady presence on the blue line and forms Hershey’s shutdown defensive pairing with Gabriel Carlsson. He has also been a stalwart on the Bears penalty kill. “The Undertaker” is never afraid to deliver a big hit or drop his gloves when needed.
Dylan McIlrath and John Parker-Jones drop the gloves. pic.twitter.com/k0MoM2iYd9
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) January 21, 2023
While he is known as a defensive defenseman, McIlrath is close to setting a new career high in assists. He compiled three assists in January, including a pair of primary helpers against Lehigh Valley on January 25, to increase his season total to 10. McIlrath’s career high in assists is 11.
By Jon Sorensen