It is no secret that a lot of the prospect shine that came with Dylan McIlrath has worn away in recent years. However, McIlrath will enter the 2015-16 season with a chance to finally make the team, and it could be his last chance to be a New York Ranger as he would have to pass through waivers if he gets sent down to the AHL.

McIlrath has the size — 6-foot-5, 220 pounds — that the Rangers need. However, when he was at the NHL level he was simply outplayed. He looked slow and immobile, and those are two traits you definitely don’t want if you’re going to be successful at the next level. He has certainly been working on it, and Jeff Beukeboom has recently said McIlrath is greatly improved in speed and balance, an encouraging sign.

The Rangers certainly have a lot invested in their defense. Ryan McDonagh, Marc Staal, Dan Girardi, Keith Yandle and Kevin Klein are all well paid and guaranteed a spot on the roster barring a trade or serious injury. That essentially leaves one spot for the likes of McIlrath, Raphael Diaz and top prospect Brady Skjei.

Skjei will likely spend a year in Hartford unless he really impresses in camp. Diaz and McIlrath will be the top competitors for the sixth spot, and the Rangers would love to see McIlrath, their first-round pick in 2010 at No. 10 overall, seize the opportunity. So far, however, McIlrath has only shown flashes and has yet to show he is ready for the pace of the NHL.

If McIlrath can show he is ready to take that next step, the Rangers might be able to entertain a trade of one of their more expensive defensemen to free up some salary cap room and maybe bring back a forward.