NEW YORK – Other than having an NHL season on his resume, not much has changed for Dylan McIlrath.
The big, rugged defenseman spent the entire season with the Rangers in 2015-16, but never earned a regular role as a top-six defenseman, getting most of his playing time (34 games) when one of the other defensemen were hurt.
So McIlrath was in the lineup for the Rangers’ preseason opener against the Islanders at the Garden Tuesday, looking to make an impression. Again.
“No camp gets any easier for me,” he said. “I still have to come out here and prove I can play and hopefully this year earn a top-six role.