2010 NHL Mock Draft, 23rd Pick: Buffalo Sabres Select Dylan McIlrath

With the 23rd pick in the 2010 SB Nation NHL Mock Draft, our Buffalo Sabres bloggers at Die By The Blade select...

Dylan McIlrath, Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)

photo via www.mjwarriors.ca

From Die By The Blade:

I had a few power forwards in mind but with players like Austin Watson and Riley Sheahan off the board, I was forced to look in another direction. I narrowed down the choices to USNTDP U-18 defenseman Jared Tinordi and Moose Jaw Warriors defenseman Dylan McIlrath. The final decision was to select the toughest player in the draft, Dylan McIlrath.

McIlrath is a big, tough kid that plays with a chip on his shoulder. He makes his presence felt every time he steps on the ice and opposing forwards always take note of where he is. He had 169 penalty minutes playing for Moose Jaw in the WHL and many of those minutes were accumulated by protecting his goalie. That has been an issue in recent years with players taking liberties with Ryan Miller with little or no repercussions.

One more pick tonight, and it belongs to the Atlanta Thrashers.