Big Hype Prospects: Gadowsky, Boija, Hutson, Borgesi
College hockey has drawn into the center focus of the hockey world. The NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament kicked off on Thursday, and plenty of players are calculating their next moves by entering the transfer portal or signing pro deals. That attention has lifted up the top athletes across the college world, giving us another reason to borrow from MLB Trade Rumors’ Big Hype Prospects series to share four names to watch with the season coming to an end.
Four Big Hype Prospects
Mac Gadowsky, LD, Army / U.S. Military Academy (NCAA, Atlantic Hockey America, NHL Free Agent)
38 GP – 16 G – 26 A – 42 TP – 6 PIM – +5
The final 10 Hobey Baker Finalists were revealed on March 19th. The list contains star NHL prospects like Zeev Buium and Ryan Leonard – but no name stands off the list quite like Army star Mac Gadowsky. Gadowsky was unstoppable this year, showing brazen confidence on the puck and the energy to make an all-three-zones impact on every single shift. He drove hard on and off of the puck and used his stocky six-foot-three, 185-pound frame to force opponents into tireless, gritty hockey. Gadowsky led all collegiate defensemen in goals scored, largely on the back of his ability to generate dangerous shots from the perimeter after leading the fast break. The sophomore defender found his way to 42 points this season – second among all defenders behind freshman star Cole Hutson – a significant stride forward from his 23 points in 28 games last year. Gadowsky’s motor and grit have been clear for a while, but his scoring was shielded through two years in the NAHL before he moved to Army. He’s broken out in full this year, and looks like a strong bet to earn college’s MVP title after emerging as Army’s top option.
Albin Boija, G, University of Maine (NCAA, Hockey East, NHL Free Agent)
36 GP – 23-7-6 record – .930 Sv% – 1.76 GAA
While Gadowsky sits at the center of Hobey Baker attention, star Maine goaltender Albin Boija will be close to the top of the list of snubs. He was a consistent impact for the Black Bears, working his way to the fifth-highest save percentage in the country while playing in the sixth-most games. The sophomore Boija grabbed firm control of Maine’s starter’s crease early in the season and never faltered enough to earn question. It was a performance that many expected from the 21-year-old netminder, after he posted a dazzling .916 in 18 games as Maine’s backup last season. Boija played behind Seattle Kraken draft pick Victor Ostman last season – and far outperformed the latter’s .892 save percentage. Boija’s breakout year was built on flashes of great athleticism and locked-in movements throughout the entire season. His movements and puck-tracking looked to be at a pro level through his high points this season, but he’s rumored to be headed for a return to college next year, per NHL.com’s Mark Divver. That news will be thrilling news for Maine, who gets back one of the hottest goaltenders across college, and gives Boija a chance to chase the MVP title with another dazzling year.
Quinn Hutson, F, Boston University (NCAA, Hockey East, NHL Free Agent)
34 GP – 21 G – 26 A – 47 TP – 29 PIM – +20
The Boston University Terriers ended the regular season with the most goals in their conference. At the core of their offense has been the Hutson brothers – Washington Capitals star prospect Cole, and emerging junior Quinn Hutson. Quinn has been a top scorer throughout his junior hockey career, netting a whopping 115 points in 104 games in the USHL before moving to BU in 2022-23. He’s grown in every season since, with 29 points as a freshman and 36 points as a sophomore. Both of those totals came narrowly below a point-per-game pace – a mark that Hutson blew out of the water with 21 goals and 47 points in 34 games this season. He’s shown an increased ability to create in the dangerous areas of the ice, getting pucks on net quickly in the slot and using short passes to open space with teammates. He’s not abundantly fast or strong, but plays a well-rounded game with a sharp eye for the net. Those traits, backed by a hard-nosed drive on the forecheck, will be enough to make Hutson a top pro free agent when the Terriers’ season ends.
Vinny Borgesi, RD, Northeastern University (NCAA, Hockey East, NHL Free Agent)
32 GP – 5 G – 17 A – 22 TP – 16 PIM – +1
Five-foot-eight defenseman Vincent Borgesi has been easily overlooked across his juniors career. His scoring hasn’t jumped off the page dating back to his days in the USHL – and his 22 points this season fell just shy of the 28 points he totaled in 34 games last year. But Borgesi’s confidence on and off of the puck has grown exponentially over his three years at Northeastern University. He’s found new ways to use his bulky, 175-pound frame – engaging opponents in the corners and low-slot with far more effectiveness than in year’s past. Borgesi has added those traits while maintaining his quick and snappy abilities on the puck, sparking fast breakouts and seamlessly joining the rush. He was a key driver for the Huskies this season, and offers under-the-radar upside as a puck-mover capable of holding his own away from the puck. Borgesi won’t jump off the page in the same way as his Hockey East peers, but he’ll remain a key name to watch for minor-league squads looking to bolster their ranks before the playoffs.
Afternoon Notes: Malkin, Shea, Talbot, Cossa, Svechnikov
The Pittsburgh Penguins will face the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday without lineup pillar Evgeni Malkin, who is set to sit out with a day-to-day upper-body injury per NHL.com’s Michelle Crechiolo. This will mark Malkin’s 12th absence since January 1st.
Malkin has continued to make a strong impact when he’s healthy. He has three points in his last five games, and 15 points in 23 games since the calendar turned over. Those marks have brought Malkin’s season-long scoring total up to 15 goals and 46 points in 62 games. That’s an 82-game scoring pace of just 61 points – the lowest of Malkin’s 19 year career in the NHL. Even still, he’s ranked fifth on the Penguins roster in scoring and fourth among forwards in average ice time (18 minutes). Malkin remains the focal point of Pittsburgh’s second-line, and leaves a noticeable hole in Tuesday night’s lineup. Kevin Hayes will see a boost in minutes in Malkin’s absence, while Joona Koppanen is expected to step into the lineup once again. Koppanen scored his first NHL goal on March 18th – his only point in four games.
While losing Malkin is always terrible news in Pittsburgh, the team will have a silver lining in the return of oft-used defenseman Ryan Shea, who missed the last seven-games with an upper-body injury – per Crechiolo. Shea has just five points in 30 games this season, though he’s heated up as of late – and played a season-high 24 minutes of ice time in his last game on March 9th. Shea has averaged 20 minutes of ice time in 10 games since January 1st. He likely won’t return to those heights immediately upon returning from injury – but could see his minutes slowly climb over Pittsburgh’s next few games.
Other notes around the league:
- Detroit Red Wings goaltender Cam Talbot will be healthy enough to serve as backup in Thursday night’s game, per Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press. St. James adds that Talbot’s return will require Detroit to reassign top goalie prospect Sebastian Cossa, who was recalled with Detroit facing injuries to Talbot and Petr Mrazek. Mrazek remains out. Talbot will ease back into the lineup looking to build on his .898 save percentage through 38 games this season. Meanwhile, Cossa will return to the minor leagues looking to maintain his .913 save percentage through 35 AHL games. Cossa has held steady at a .913 Sv% in each of the last three seasons. The Red Wings’ starter’s crease will continue to be manned by Alex Lyon, who’s saved 39 of 44 shots against over his last two starts. Those marks have brought Lyon to a .899 Sv% in 27 games this season – second-highest on the Wings behind Mrazek’s .902 in five games played.
- The Carolina Hurricanes have received a boost of good news, with winger Andrei Svechnikov set to return to the lineup after he missed the last seven games with an upper-body injury per NHL.com’s Walt Ruff. The missed games brought Svechnikov up to eight absences this season – his fewest since the 2021-22 campaign. The 24-year-old winger has 18 goals and 43 points in 63 games this season. With such a chunk of missing games behind him, and just 11 games left on Carolina’s schedule, the ‘Canes will likely ease Svechnikov back into the lineup. He’ll likely rotate through a top-six role with wingers like Jackson Blake, Taylor Hall, and Jack Roslovic.
Rangers’ Matt Rempe Out Week-To-Week
The Rangers announced that forward Matt Rempe is out week-to-week due to an upper-body injury (via Larry Brooks of the New York Post). A corresponding recall is unlikely because Sam Carrick has rejoined the team after a brief personal leave, Brooks adds, giving the Blueshirts 13 healthy forwards. With less than a month to go in the season, the injury could end his campaign if New York doesn’t make the playoffs.
Rempe, 22, now carries an injury designation for the first time in his brief NHL career. Most of his unavailability over the past two years has been due to suspensions – first, a four-gamer for elbowing Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler last year, then an eight-game ban earlier this season for boarding Stars defender Miro Heiskanen.
While the depth enforcer was ferried between New York and AHL Hartford many times in the early going of the season, he’s remained on the NHL roster since being activated from his suspension. He’s made 36 appearances in 2024-25, more than doubling his 2023-24 total, posting 2-3–5 with a plus-four rating and 63 PIMs. He’s averaging just under eight minutes of ice time per game and ranks sixth on the team with 103 hits.
The 6’9″, 255-lb forward entered the season with one goal – stay on the ice. Penalties and suspensions have overshadowed any upside he has as an effective bottom-six checking presence since he entered the league last season. He’s made some progress in that regard, averaging 1.75 PIMs per game compared to a ridiculous 4.18 last year.
Rempe put up 3-2–5 in 18 games with the Wolf Pack earlier this year. A pending restricted free agent, he should be in line for a sub-$1MM AAV on an extension as the Blueshirts navigate a cap crunch this summer.
Rookie Brett Berard will re-enter the lineup tomorrow against the Ducks in Rempe’s absence. He’d sat as a healthy scratch for the past two games. He’s been a more effective depth scorer than the latter in limited minutes, notching 4-4–8 in 28 games. New York selected Berard, 22, in the fifth round in 2020.
Flyers Assign Jett Luchanko To AHL
The Flyers announced Thursday that they’ve assigned top center prospect Jett Luchanko to AHL Lehigh Valley to finish the season. His major junior campaign with the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League is over after they failed to qualify for the playoffs.
Selected 13th overall in last year’s draft, Luchanko was a surprise inclusion on Philadelphia’s opening night roster after a strong training camp. He appeared in four of Philly’s first five games of the season, going without a point and posting a minus-three rating. The 18-year-old did well in the dot for such a young player, winning 17 of 37 draws (45.9 FO%), but didn’t have good possession impacts at even strength (39.5 CF%, 43.8 xGF%).
Clearly in need of more development time, the Flyers’ only option was to return Luchanko to juniors. He won’t be eligible for a full-time AHL assignment, at least while the OHL season is going on, until the 2026-27 season. The 5’11” righty put up a solid performance captaining a conference-worst Guelph squad, posting 21-35–56 in 46 games to lead the team in points per game. He posted a minus-three rating that stands out in a good way on a team with a -75 goal differential and also scored once in five games for Canada at the World Juniors.
Luchanko is the No. 2 prospect in the Flyers’ system and the 50th-ranked prospect in the NHL, according to Scott Wheeler of The Athletic. He’ll get his first taste of minor-league hockey over the coming weeks before looking to repeat a strong camp performance en route to cracking the Flyers’ opening night roster for a second time in 2025-26.
Predators Place Marc Del Gaizo, Kieffer Bellows On Waivers
March 27: Bellows and Del Gaizo cleared waivers, Nick Kieser of 102.5 The Game reports. Both remain on Nashville’s roster for now.
March 26: The Nashville Predators have placed defenseman Marc Del Gaizo and left-winger Kieffer Bellows on waivers per PuckPedia. Del Gaizo has been with the NHL club since late February, while Bellows was called up on March 7th.
Serving as the Predators’ de facto defense call-up, Del Gaizo has split the season between the major and minor league rosters. He’s recorded eight points and 17 penalty minutes in 35 NHL games this season, making this year Del Gaizo’s formal rookie season after playing in nine games, and netting three points, in the NHL last year. He’s also added eight goals, 12 points, and 16 penalty minutes in 30 AHL games this season. That mark sits as a slight downtick from the 34 points he scored in 60 AHL games last year, and the 31 points he scored in 71 games of the 2022-23 season. The 25-year-old defender has found a niche as a stout defender away from the puck, though his menial scoring wasn’t enough to earn an everyday spot this season.
Bellows hasn’t found his NHL scoring this season either, with just three points in 13 games this season. He’s been far more productive in the minors, where his 14 goals and 29 points in 41 games ranks sixth on the Milwaukee Admirals in scoring. Bellows’ 54 penalty minutes also ranks fifth on the squad. He’s playing through his first season with the Predators organization after posting an impressive 27 goals and 49 points in 52 games with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies last season. The Canadian stint was part of what’s turning into a journeyman career for Bellows, who’s played with the New York Islanders, Philadelphia Flyers, and Predators within the last four seasons.
Both players seem likely to clear waivers and head back to the minor leagues, but their status will be important to watch. Should either player be claimed, they would be ineligible to be recalled to the NHL for the rest of the seasons. Both players are set to become unrestricted free agents this summer, which could mean they’ve played their last NHL games of the year – should another team want to bolster their minor-league lineups ahead of the Calder Cup Playoffs.
Liam McLinskey To Sign AHL Deal In Panthers Organization
1:19 p.m.: The Checkers have confirmed the signing.
12:33 p.m.: The Panthers are bringing Hobey Baker Award finalist Liam McLinskey into the organization on a two-year contract with AHL Charlotte, PHR can report. The deal begins next season, but he’ll finish 2024-25 on an ATO with Charlotte following a standout senior season at Holy Cross.
One of the top 10 names in voting for the Hobey this year, it’s a tad surprising not to see the 24-year-old McLinskey land an NHL commitment. The 6’3″, 165-lb forward dominated AHA play with the Crusaders this year, ranking second in the entire NCAA in scoring with 24-30–54 in 40 appearances. However, Holy Cross won’t be in the national tournament starting today after losing the conference championship game to Bentley.
[RELATED: List Of NHL Prospects In The 2025 NCAA Championship Tournament]
The undrafted New York native’s breakout didn’t come out of nowhere. He transferred to Holy Cross after spending his freshman year as a reserve player for Quinnipiac, getting into just two games. Upon arrival in Worcester, he scored 21 goals in 40 games in 2022-23 but managed just four assists. McLinskey’s playmaking and point totals improved linearly over the following years, upping his production to 47 points in 39 games last year before this season’s 54-point effort. He was also a top-10 finalist for the Hobey in 2024.
While he’ll head to Charlotte to suit up with the Panthers’ farm-bound prospects, signing a minor-league contract means he remains an unrestricted free agent in the NHL’s eyes. He’s free to take an NHL offer if one comes up, although it stands to reason Florida will offer him a deal if they like what they see from him down the stretch in Charlotte. McLinskey’s birthday was in February, so he’s still eligible for an entry-level deal, albeit a one-year pact, if they sign him during the 2025 calendar year. If the Panthers or any other team waits until the beginning of 2026 to sign him to an NHL contract, he’ll no longer be eligible for an ELC and would need to sign a two-way deal without performance bonuses.
A right-winger with some utility at center, McLinskey could be a notable injection into a league-worst Panthers prospect pool, as graded by Scott Wheeler of The Athletic. The only player to outproduce McLinskey this season, Denver forward Jack Devine, is the No. 2 prospect in Florida’s system.
Oilers Recall Olivier Rodrigue
The Oilers have recalled goaltender prospect Olivier Rodrigue from AHL Bakersfield, per a team announcement. He comes up to serve as Calvin Pickard‘s backup for the time being after starter Stuart Skinner left last night’s loss to the Stars in the third period after taking Dallas winger Mikko Rantanen‘s knee to the head inadvertently. To keep themselves cap-compliant, Edmonton sent center Derek Ryan to AHL Bakersfield in a corresponding move.
Rodrigue, 24, was a second-round pick by Edmonton (No. 62 overall) back in 2018. Rodrigue was the second goalie off the board that year after the Rangers selected Olof Lindbom with the No. 39 pick, but neither he nor Lindbom have seen NHL ice. Multiple goalies selected after them – Justus Annunen (No. 64), Lukáš Dostál (No. 85), Joel Hofer (No. 107), and Samuel Ersson (No. 143) are now full-time NHLers. He’s a 6’1″, left-catching netminder who’s largely done well in the minors, but not this year. He’s posted a 3.05 GAA, .899 SV%, one shutout, and an 18-15-7 record in 40 games with Bakersfield.
That regression comes after Rodrigue, firmly the No. 3 option on the Oilers’ depth chart ahead of struggling veteran Collin Delia, had posted save percentages of .912 and .916 with the Condors in 2022-23 and 2023-24. As a result, he earned a $125K AHL salary with a $150K guarantee on the two-way extension he signed with Edmonton last March.
While still an intriguing long-term option, Rodrigue’s underwhelming AHL showing doesn’t make him a promising insurance policy in Skinner’s absence. The latter has now left two of his last three starts following head contact, and he’s presumably entered concussion protocol as a result. He’s started 12 of 16 games coming out of the 4 Nations break, but it’s now Pickard’s crease for the next few games, at least.
Of course, neither goaltender has put together a compelling performance in 2024-25. Skinner has a 2.91 GAA and .894 SV% through 49 appearances, allowing 8.9 goals above average based on the league-average save percentage this season. Pickard’s numbers of 2.61 and .901 through 28 appearances look much better at first glance, but MoneyPuck data shows he’s actually been worse than Skinner compared to the quality of defense in front of him. The Oilers are allowing 2.83 expected goals per game in front of Skinner while allowing just 2.36 in front of Pickard. Neither goalie has given them above-average play, but Skinner’s -3.9 goals saved above expected are a better option than Pickard’s -6.0.
Skinner’s injury leaves them in a significant bind if he’ll miss extended time heading into the postseason, especially after the Oilers failed to address their goaltending issues at the trade deadline. They’ve fallen behind the Kings and now rank third in the Pacific Division with a 41-25-5 record, setting themselves up to start the postseason on the road. MoneyPuck only gives them a 14.9% chance of climbing back into second place, a figure that likely drops a marginal amount without Skinner available.
As for Ryan, he was recalled just last week for his first stint on the NHL roster since January. The 38-year-old center appeared in Edmonton’s last two games, recording a hit and shot on goal while going 10-for-15 on faceoffs. With stars Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid sidelined for the short term, they’re already short on forwards, so they’ll likely need to dress 11 forwards and seven defensemen out of necessity tonight against the Kraken.
Kirill Kaprizov, Joel Eriksson Ek Begin On-Ice Rehab
Wild stars Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek have progressed enough in their recovery from lower-body injuries to return to the ice sheet ahead of today’s practice, relays Michael Russo of The Athletic. Head coach John Hynes stressed the development doesn’t signal a return is imminent for either, but told reporters they’ll both travel on their upcoming road trip after taking the “first step to getting back” (via Jessi Pierce of NHL.com). Continued week-to-week timelines for both make their regular-season availability uncertain, but it’s increasingly likely they’ll become available to the team sometime during the first round of the playoffs if they can hold onto a postseason berth.
Kaprizov underwent what’s believed to be a groin surgery in late January and is now nearly two months removed from that procedure. He was initially expected to return to the lineup shortly after the four-week mark, but for the second time this season, his absence has lasted much longer than initially expected. His injury dates back to a November game, and he missed the tail end of December and most of January after aggravating it. He returned to the lineup for just three games before opting to undergo surgery.
After missing the playoffs in 2024 for the first time in five years, Minnesota was one of the league’s hottest teams to start the season. They went 21-10-4 before Kaprizov’s first extended absence. That provided enough cushion for them to play just above .500 hockey the rest of the way, losing their divisional berth but still likely to hold onto a wild card spot – they have an 84.8% chance at the playoffs entering tonight’s games but could push that number back over 90 with a win over the league-leading Capitals, per MoneyPuck.
Their offense has sputtered with 2.49 goals per game since Dec. 27, and as expected, it’s their top line of Marco Rossi and Mats Zuccarello leading the charge with Matt Boldy skating in Kaprizov’s spot. Those three, as well as Frédérick Gaudreau, are tied for the team lead with 10 goals in 37 games since Kaprizov initially landed on IR.
Serving as Minnesota’s offensive lifeblood since entering the league in 2021, Kaprizov was a legitimate Hart Trophy contender before exiting the lineup. He has 23-29–52 through 37 games, good for a career-high 1.41 points per game that ranks fifth in the league behind Nikita Kucherov, Nathan MacKinnon, Leon Draisaitl, and Connor McDavid.
His absence alone would be enough to derail a season, but Eriksson Ek, Minnesota’s top matchup center, has also been limited to 9-15–24 in 42 games. He last played on Feb. 22 and sustained a lower-body injury in practice two days later. He’s only been available for 58.3% of Minnesota’s games this year. They’ve had both Eriksson Ek and Kaprizov in the lineup just 24 times in 72 games – exactly one-third of their contests to date in 2024-25.
Having both in the lineup for Game 1 of a first-round series, which will likely be against either the Golden Knights or Jets, is a must-have for Minnesota to pull off an upset. Assuming they make the postseason, MoneyPuck only gives them a 24% chance of advancing to the second round.
Eriksson Ek is on standard IR, while Kaprizov is on LTIR. If Minnesota were to have Kaprizov available before the end of the regular season, they’d need to clear roughly $550K in cap space to activate him.
Blackhawks To Recall Kevin Korchinski
The Blackhawks are calling up top left-handed defense prospect Kevin Korchinski from AHL Rockford, reports Scott Powers of The Athletic. The seventh overall pick of the 2022 draft could make his first NHL appearance in three months tomorrow night against the Golden Knights.
Korchinski joins a Chicago blue line that boasted just one defender over the age of 23 in its last outing, with veterans T.J. Brodie (healthy) and Alec Martinez (upper body) not dressed. They’ve recently brought up top right-shot prospect Artyom Levshunov, the 2024 second-overall pick. That high-powered duo joins other young names like Louis Crevier, Ethan Del Mastro, and Wyatt Kaiser, who have seen in-season promotions, as the Blackhawks evaluate which of them could appear on their opening night roster next fall.
Unlike Levshunov, Korchinski isn’t a rookie. The 20-year-old was a full-timer on Chicago’s blue line last year but understandably struggled without much support. After being limited to 5-10–15 with a -39 rating in 76 games in 2023-24, the Blackhawks deemed it best for his long-term development to spend more time down a level in Rockford. The IceHogs aren’t the strongest club offensively, producing 2.87 goals per game, and that’s reflected in the team’s stars’ semi-conservative point totals. Korchinski still leads their blue line with 3-24–27 in 54 games, but he’s still behind the curve defensively as he adjusts to professional hockey. His -17 rating is the worst on the team.
However, his upside always primarily stemmed from his skating, offensive involvement, and power-play versatility. He ranks third among Chicago prospects and 28th overall on Scott Wheeler of The Athletic’s most recent ranking of league prospects. While there remains concern about his defensive-zone decision-making, he’s a good stick-checker that could make him an effective transition defender – once the rest of the Blackhawks’ roster is filled out enough to play better system-oriented hockey.
In nine NHL games this season, coming on a December recall, Korchinski went without a point and logged a minus-five rating while seeing 16:46 of ice time per game. He controlled 46.6% of shot attempts and 50% of expected goals at even strength, however, both notable improvements on last year’s possession numbers (44.4 CF%, 40.4 xGF%).
Korchinski, a World Juniors gold medalist with Canada in 2023, still has one year remaining on his entry-level contract and will be a restricted free agent in 2026. He’s under team control for at least five seasons beyond this one and won’t be arbitration-eligible until he logs four seasons with at least 10 NHL games.
Image courtesy of Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports.
Capitals Sign Dylan McIlrath To Two-Year Extension
Only one defenseman on the Washington Capitals isn’t signed beyond this season. The Capitals announced they’ve signed Dylan McIlrath to a two-year, $1.6MM contract extension, an average annual value of $800K.
It’s a modest bump in pay for the Winnipeg, Manitoba native, who’s been earning $775K over the last three years with Washington. Should he stay with the Capitals organization over the life of the extension, it’ll be the longest McIlrath has been tenured with one team in his professional playing career.
That career started more than a decade ago. The New York Rangers selected McIlrath with the 10th overall selection of the 2010 NHL Draft after his sophomore campaign with the WHL’s Moose Jaw Warriors. Even then, the pick was considered a reach, with the NHL Central Scouting Bureau projecting McIlrath as the 17th overall pick.
Still, McIlrath carved out a niche role with the Rangers organization, a role maintained to this day. The 6’5″, 231 lbs defenseman has never scored more than four points in an NHL season and no more than 17 points in an AHL season, but he’s found a home in the penalty box at the very least.
McIlrath has racked up a whopping 1,204 PIMs in 618 AHL contests, with another 133 Pims in 91 Calder Cup playoff contests. In the NHL, largely due to lack of playing time, McIlrath has accrued 147 PIMs at the NHL level in 86 contests.
Despite the lack of NHL playing time, it’s hard to consider McIlrath’s time with Washington as anything less than the best stretch of his career. He’s notched four assists in 20 games for the Capitals since 2022-23, averaging 11:03 of ice time per game. He’s still 18 games short of the total he matched earlier in his career with the Rangers, with his time in the AHL making up the gap.
McIlrath, then rostered with the Detroit Red Wings’ AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins, won his first Calder Cup in 2017. Since joining the Capitals organization in 2021-22, McIlrath has tripled his number of Calder Cup rings, helping the Hershey Bears win back-to-back championships in 2023 and 2024.