Addressing the recent Dan Boyle trade rumblings and are the Rangers showcasing McIlrath?
Recently, Larry Brooks of the NYPOST suggested that the Rangers made a huge mistake in signing Dan Boyle. It’s a rather scathing article but this is what generated some trade rumor buzz.
[su_quote cite=”NY POST” url=”https://nypost.com/2015/10/11/rangers-should-take-action-after-sathers-costly-dan-boyle-flop/?”][Boyle] is 39 and on the final season of his two-year, $9 million, over-35 contract that includes a no-move clause. This means that unless he volunteers to go, and unless there is a team out there willing to take the righty defenseman, Boyle’s $4.5M cap hit will be on the books for the remainder of the season. But that shouldn’t guarantee him a spot in the lineup.[/su_quote]
While Dan Boyle has lost a step and doesn’t have the ability to cover up for bad pinches, he hasn’t been horrible. In three games so far, he has an assist and +2 rating while averaging over 16 minutes a game. Those of you into advanced stats show he has a lowly corsi for of 31%. However, I believe tonight’s scratch is really based on his age and just seeing what they have in Dylan McIlrath. Alain Vigneault said as much yesterday.
Of course, I’m not ignoring the fact that AV said he feels that Boyle can play better but he was honest about the scratch. Per the NYPOST, “At the end of the day it probably had a little bit more to do with I wanted to see Dylan, so I decided to make that change.”
Now, back to the rumor rumblings. I am amazed at how much Larry Brooks’ column has generated. Nowhere in his article does it say anything about the Rangers actively trying to move him. Yet, here we are a week into the season and we’re trading a defenseman that AV actually likes with Stanley Cup experience.
Speaking to a former teammate of his, Dan Boyle was truly upset about leaving San Jose, but one of his top destinations was coming to play for the Rangers. If you recall, his rights were traded to the Islanders and refused to sign with them. Now that he is here and sees just how close the Rangers are to winning a Cup, he wouldn’t even think about waiving his no move clause.
What I don’t know for certain is what the Rangers plans are from here. Dan Boyle was most definitely a Glen Sather move. Now that Jeff Gorton is in control, does he want Boyle out? At this point, the only way anything happens is if the Rangers decide to bench their 4.5M defenseman. Are the Rangers going to make him so miserable he demands a trade? If so, there really is no indication that is their plan.
Now, if we want to be really logical, the player that Boyle was scratched for is likely being shopped around. The Rangers blue-line is basically set for several years. If Yandle can be re-signed, that leaves Boyle’s spot for next year to bluechip prospect Brady Skjei to make the team. That means McIlrath really doesn’t have much of a future with the Rangers.
Here’s another red flag that leads me to believe the Rangers are trying to make a move with McIlrath. Raphael Diaz who was sent to Hartford hasn’t demanded to be released from his contract to go back to Europe. The Rangers told him and his agent that they will get back to him by the end of this month. This is a huge indicator that something is up.
Which route will the Rangers go? Stay tuned because we will have some answers in the upcoming weeks.
More About:New York Rangers Analysis New York Rangers News New York Rangers Rumors