from Ansar Khan of Mlive,
Dylan McIlrath racked up 49 fights in juniors, 62 bouts in the AHL and dropped the gloves 11 times in his first 43 NHL games.
It’s easy see why flying fists come to mind when many think of the 6-foot-5, 231-pound defenseman.
But McIlrath hasn’t needed to fight in his brief time with the Detroit Red Wings. They value him as more than an enforcer.
The Red Wings are 8-2-2 with McIlrath in the lineup, between his recall late last season from the Grand Rapids Griffins and the past six games this season due to their injury-riddled blue line.