Dylan McIlrath, Magnus Paajarvi on waivers

On Thursday, the New York Rangers dropped defenseman Dylan McIlrath on waivers, while the St. Louis Blues did the same with Magnus Paajarvi – again.

Let’s start with Dylan McIlrath, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2010 draft. I remember there being some surprise when he was selected, because the vibe at the draft was that either Cam Fowler or Brandon Gormley – both puck-moving defensemen in a League shifting in that direction – would have been the optimal choice. But McIlrath was 6-5 and could fight, earning the nickname “The Undertaker,” and apparently that’s what the Rangers valued at the time.

A roster numbers crunch meant the Rangers had to make a decision, and McIlrath was the odd-man out. According to the NY Post, there were a few things at play here:

Neither of course would the Blueshirts want to lose McIlrath for nothing. But as there has been no great clamor around the league to acquire the 24-year-old whose status as the club’s eighth defenseman is clear, perhaps McIlrath would go unclaimed on a one-way, $800,000 deal. That would no doubt be a blow to him, but it at least would allow him to get playing time.

There are these two circumstances to consider regarding McIlrath: First, if he does not play at least 42 games this season, he will become a Group IV unrestricted free agent on July 1. He has played one game thus far. Second, it is possible McIlrath could become a component of a larger package in a potential trade for a top-four defenseman such as Winnipeg’s Jacob Trouba or Anaheim’s Sami Vatanen or Cam Fowler.

That free-agency part could be a poison pill on the waiver wire.

Rangers fans are blasting the decision, convinced they’re going to lose him for nothing. He’s 24 and has played 38 games in four seasons; in other words, he’s spent more time in the press box staring at the MSG ice than playing on it. At this point, lamenting his departure is lamenting a perceived unfulfilled potential due to his lofty draft position than anything McIlrath has done as a pro.

As for Paajarvi, he’s on waivers because Jori Lehtera is back from injury. Also because he’s done nothing this season: three games, one goal, playing 9:16 per night.

He’s a classic case of a prospect that was overrated due to his draft position, yet at the same time never really given a chance in either Edmonton or St. Louis to find what his appropriate role should be. He’s 25, he’s a restricted free agent after this season and the Blues are probably phasing him out.

Is Europe next? Because the Blues have already done this dance with Paajarvi.

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Greg Wyshynski is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter. His book, TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE PUCK, is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.

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