Dylan McIlrath, the controversial 10th overall selection in the 2010 Entry Draft, had a reputation that preceded him to Broadway. Known as “The Undertaker,” from the moment he fought Calgary’s noted pugilist, Brian McGrattan, in his first NHL game on Dec. 15, 2013, Rangers fans have salivated over the thought of No. 6 patrolling the blue line for a franchise that historically has been light in the heavyweight division.
Sunday night’s bout against Wayne Simmonds in which retribution was gained for the Flyers winger’s concussion-inducing blow against Ryan McDonagh nine days earlier has already elevated the 23-year-old rookie into the conversation concerning the most popular enforcers in Blueshirt history.
The Post’s Top 10:
10. Ed Hospodar: Everybody liked Boxcar, but boy, oh boy, he should have known better to try and take on Clark Gillies at the Garden on Dec. 30, 1981. If you check out the video, you can see teammate Dave Maloney’s shoulders sag from feet away after Gillies scored the kayo.
9. Darren Langdon: No technique whatsoever, but somehow managed to hang in against the toughest while filling the enforcer role largely in absentia during the mid-to-late 90s.
8. Chris Nilan: Wasn’t here long, and is far better known for his exploits as a Canadien, but everyone appreciated his moxie and willingness while he was in New York in the late 80s.
7. Reggie Fleming: A favorite of Blue Seaters everywhere. Undersized, but that never stopped him for a moment. Battled his heart out for the Rangers of the late 60s and was an important component of the team’s turnaround from laughingstock to perennial power under Emile Francis. All of the punches probably caught up to him, though, as following his death he became the first NHL player to be diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
6. Lou Fontinato: Leapin’ Looie provided the muscle through the mid to late 50s for the Andy Bathgate-Dean Prentice-Harry Howell-Bill Gadsby editions. Once appeared on a national TV program to try and fight his way out of a literal paper bag. He couldn’t. His days as a tough guy in New York ended when he took a brutal beating in a fight from Gordie Howe on Feb. 1, 1959. Traded to Montreal for Doug Harvey, his career ended in catastrophic fashion when he became temporarily paralyzed flying into the boards after missing a hip check on Vic Hadfield in 1963.
5. Brandon Prust: A middleweight, to be sure, who was at the heart and center of the Rangers’ rise to prominence under John Tortorella. Practiced the sweet science, slipping punches while landing more than his share. The Blueshirts were 8-1 when Prust fought in the first 2:05 of game. Took on Chris Neil in first period of Game 6 of first round in 2012 after the Ottawa enforcer concussed Brian Boyle with a Game 5 headshot. Ensuing fight was credited by teammates for victory that avoided elimination before Blueshirts won series at Garden in Game 7.
4. Jeff Beukeboom: The model in so many ways for McIlrath, whom Big 23 coached in the minors in Hartford. Strong, silent type who rode shotgun for Brian Leetch and the ’94 Cup winners. Career was essentially ended when he was concussed by a cowardly sucker punch from behind from the Kings’ Matt Johnson in LA in November 1998 that makes Simmonds’ blow against McDonagh seem like a love tap.
3. Vic Hadfield: Evolved into the first 50-goal scorer in franchise history and is more remembered as the left wing on the Blueshirts’ beloved GAG Line with Jean Ratelle and Rod Gilbert, but this captain who also wore No. 11 initially fought his way into the hearts of Rangers fans through the 60s. His bouts with against Henri Richard, a number of which took place in the penalty box (back when players were seated feet apart on a bench separated only by an usher and/or off-ice official) were the stuff of legend.
2. Tie Domi: First and foremost a showman who loved the spotlight. Took the belt from Bob Probert on Feb. 9, 1992 in perhaps the most famous bout (not including Ali-Frazier I) in Garden history and let everyone know it. Should have patented the move before Aaron Rogers made it more famous.
Lost it though in a rematch in New York the following season.
1. Nick Fotiu: The People’s Choice. No one ever wore the logo with more pride than the kid from Staten Island. Would sling pucks into the Blue Seats at the conclusion of warmups. Was heartbroken upon being claimed by the Whalers after being left unprotected by GM Fred Shero in the reverse WHA expansion draft following the 1979 run to the Cup final, but came back home a year later. Little known fact: Shero used Fotiu to shadow Mike Bossy when the Islanders’ sniper came into the Garden on Feb. 25, 1979, with a then NHL-record-tying 10-game goal-scoring streak. Bossy was held scoreless, but Fotiu’s defensive feat was overshadowed when Ulf Nilsson suffered a broken ankle when checked by Denis Potvin on a play that lives in infamy.