Dylan McIlrath 2023-24 Final Capitals Report Card
Remember it's just three NHL games and the veteran defenseman is still in action with the Hershey Bears
Next up on our Washington Capitals report card series where we also break down the call ups we have Dylan McIlrath. The veteran defenseman is a key component of the Hershey Bears as they look to defend their Calder Cup title.
In those three Caps games, McIlrath had one assist. That was in the regular season. In the playoffs the defenseman appeared in all four games as the well let's not talk about it.
The assist will be one to remember as it was Alex Ovechkin's 31st goal of the season to put him 41 away from tying the record. That came in the regular season finale in Philadelphia against the Flyers.
With the Bears
In Hershey, McIlrath continued to shoreup the front of Hunter Shepard and Clay Stevenson, respectively. In 58 regular season games the Canadian had three goals and six assists for nine points. As the veteran he has the responsibilities of team captain up there in the Sweetest Place on Earth.
So far in the Calder Cup playoffs he has one assist in six games. But in the six games the Bears have done what they had to do as they took both games on home ice in the best of five with the series shifting to Hartford.
Grade C: McIlrath did well with the Caps but he's much more reliable in Hershey. Or maybe the defense was too banged up. Whatever the excuse it's why the Bears are playing and the Caps aren't.
Game 3 of the Calder Cup playoffs featuring the Bears and McIlrath airs Wednesday May 22 at 7 p.m. If you can't make the drive up to Hartford or don't live in that area you can catch the Bears game on Monumental Sports Network, AHLTV outside of the DC market and on FOX43.2.