The wheels of the New York Rangers organization began to turn today.
After the fallout of a Saturday night 1-0 shootout loss where not one but two defensemen went down to injury, general manager Glen Sather and company started their repair work on the blue line.
At 5:53 pm EST, the Rangers website blueshirtsunited.com officially announced that the Rangers have called up defensemen Dylan McIlrath and Conor Allen to the lineup for tomorrow’s night rematch with the St. Louis Blues. Both were likely candidates to get called up. Here are a couple of thoughts shared on the Twitter-verse today:
Rangers officially announce they have recalled Conor Allen and Dylan McIlrath from the Wolf Pack #NYR
— Pat Leonard (@PLeonardNYDN) November 2, 2014
As expected, Allen and McIlrath recalled by #NYR
— Larry Brooks (@NYP_Brooksie) November 2, 2014
#NYR make it official and recall @connieallen4 & @dylan_mcilrath from @WolfPackAHL..here's my story: http://t.co/xeW6ixzMgd
— Jim Cerny (@JimCerny) November 2, 2014
Both players were heavily favored to make the roster out of training camp this year. Unfortunately, there wasn’t any room for them on the team at the time. Now, there is.
Last year, Allen surprised many with his defensive skills. When he was put into the lineup, he played as if he had been on the blue line all season. Nothing seem to rattle the youngster. He showed no nerves on the ice and was unafraid to take the puck up ice. “Look like a rookie, play like a veteran” is a way to describe Allen’s skills on the ice. During his time with the Rangers AHL affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack, Allen has played in 79 games accumulating 36 points. Just this season, he has two goals and five points in seven games. This could potentially be a case of “striking the coal while the iron is hot” in the case of Allen.
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McILrath is the other defenseman that fans had been anticipating. A former first round draft choice by the Rangers in 2010, most fans have waited patiently for the prospect to arrive. Unfortunately, this was not the ideal opportunity with injuries to key personnel. But it’s an opportunity, regardless. The 6’5 Winnipeg native provides a right handed shot for Alain Vigneault’s balanced defensive pairings. Weighing in at 230 lbs., McILrath offers another effect: he’s big and tough. He will inflict punishment on the opposition and is not afraid to get into a scrap or two. He currently leads the Wolf Pack in penalty minutes with 21 through eight games played. Last season in Hartford, he accumulated 165 penalty minutes in 62 games. Needless to say, he will incur penalty minutes but provides an intimidating figure on the back end that should put fear into any offensive player gutsy enough to cross over the blue line in the offensive zone.
The two call ups are smart for the Rangers. Prior today’s announcement, rumors had spread of trade possibilities, as a result of the injuries to Ryan McDonagh and Kevin Klein. Their injuries are not season ending or any career threatening. There is no need to go out on the market to get replacements. That’s why you have a farm system, to develop talent to someday play in the NHL in the event of injuries.
If the reaction is to trade for bodies when something goes wrong, why even have a farm system?