Washington Capitals · Defense · Shoots R

Dylan McIlrath

Age 34 · 6'5" · 245 lb · Born in Winnipeg, CAN

Cap hit

$850K

0.8% of $104M cap

Term

1 yr

Through 2026-27, then UFA

Clause

None

Surplus value

—

needs 40 recent games

Contract details from our records; public announcement not yet matched

2025-26 regular season

Goals

0.0% shooting

Assists

0 primary

Points

0.00 per game

TOI/GP

9:19

PP 0:00 · PK 0:10

xGF%

46.6

5v5, +4.7 vs. last yr

Game Score

-0.05

per game, goals above average

Faceoff %

—

Plus/minus

-1

Blocks 9 · Hits 26

Game log

Last 5 games · NHL API

Game	SOG	HIT	BLK	TOI	PP	PK	FO	OZS%	GV	+/-	GS
Apr 14 @ CBJ · W 2-1	1	3	2	13:04	0:00	0:24	—	50	0	0	-0.03
Mar 3 vs UTA · L 3-2	0	0	1	6:55	0:00	0:00	—	33	1	0	-0.04
Jan 31 vs CAR · W 4-3	2	3	0	9:15	0:00	0:00	—	50	0	-1	-0.18
Jan 27 @ SEA · L 5-1	0	3	1	11:53	0:00	0:56	—	33	0	0	-0.16
Jan 15 vs SJS · L 3-2	0	2	0	6:05	0:00	0:00	—	—	0	0	-0.04

GS = our Game Score, goals above average. FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.

Advanced metrics

5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 118 min · percentile vs. NHL defensemen

xGF%46.6%

28th percentile

Relative xGF%+0.5

57th percentile

HDCF%52.9%

68th percentile

CF%42.3%

4th percentile

Relative CF%-6.5

7th percentile

FF%42.7%

5th percentile

GF%33.3%

4th percentile

CF/6040.8

0th percentile

CA/6055.6

65th percentile

ixG/600.16

36th percentile

Goals above expected-0.3

37th percentile

IPP0.0%

0th percentile

PDO98.7

30th percentile

OZS%22.6%

0th percentile

xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.

Play styleDefensive depth defenseman

Trait percentiles vs. NHL defensemen · 2025-26

McIlrath is a high-impact defensive presence and physical force who overwhelms opponents in the trenches. His limited offensive skill means he rarely creates or initiates attack, but his elite positioning and aggression make him valuable in a support role.

PhysicalDefensively eliteDepth option

Shooting volume: 34
Playmaking: 0
Zone entries(est.): 16
Forechecking: 99
Physicality: 99
Defensive impact: 100
Puck management: 7
Speed: 23

Where he shoots from

Slot 0% · Mid-range 20% · Perimeter 80%(10 unblocked shots)

Strengths

Near-perfect defensive impact positioning and reads (100th percentile)
Exceptional physicality and contact willingness in all situations (99th percentile)
Relentless forechecking intensity and pursuit (99th percentile)

Watch-outs

Minimal playmaking ability, rarely facilitates breakouts or transitions (0th percentile)
Very limited rush chance generation and entry creation (16th percentile)
Ineffective with the puck, minimal handling and passing ability (7th percentile)

Similar style: Arber Xhekaj (MTL), Vincent Desharnais (WSH)

Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.

Where his Game Score comes from

2025-26 · 13 GP · goals above average

Season total -0.7 goals, or -0.05 per game.

Even strength offense: -0.2
Even strength defense: +0.1
Finishing: -0.3
Playmaking: -0.4
Penalties: +0.2

Game Score adds up a player's impact in goals compared with an average player given the same ice time: his share of expected goals for and against at even strength, on the power play, and on the penalty kill, plus finishing (goals minus expected goals), primary assists, penalties drawn and taken, and faceoffs. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.

By season

Regular season

Season	Team	GP	A	P	+/-	SOG	TOI/GP	FO%	GS/GP
2025-26	WSH	13	0	0	-1	5	9:19	—	-0.05
2024-25	WSH	17	2	2	-3	10	11:39	—	-0.09
2023-24	WSH	3	1	1	+1	1	10:18	—	+0.16
2022-23	WSH	6	1	1	-6	1	11:41	—	-0.09

Sentiment & chatter

Fans

—

Beat writers

—

Media

—

Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.

Age curve

NHL defensemen · production index

202937

At 34, defensemen typically produce 71% of their peak (age 24).

From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.

Skating · NHL EDGE

2025-26, as of Oct 2

Top speed: 21.3 mph; 34th pct
20+ mph bursts: 2
Hardest shot: 90.5 mph; 50th pct
Distance: 17.6 mi
OZ time: 37.0%; 0th pct
DZ time: 44.7%