LOS ANGELES — This Rangers’ first-round draft selection was about the need . . . for toughness.
This 10th overall selection of intimidating, mean-edged, 6-foot-4, 212-pound defenseman Dylan McIlrath was, in the words of director player personnel director Gordie Clark, “about a special player.”
In a draft that did indeed go off the charts after Taylor Hall went to Edmonton first overall and Tyler Seguin was snapped up one pick later by Boston, the Rangers selected the athlete they had zoned in on since December.
“A special player doesn’t have to be a top-end scorer or goaltender,” Clark said, after acknowledging that the absence of similar type players in the organization was a factor in the selection. “He’s a special player. With the size, toughness and grit we project, he’s that player.”
McIlrath, who has been nicknamed “The Undertaker,” picked up 192 penalty minutes last season while engaging in 19 fights.
“That’s part of my role and I relish it,” McIlrath said. “If it’s not fighting, the intimidation factor is going to be there. I try and strike fear in the opposition. I’m not going to change.”
Though McIlrath was rated 17th overall among North American skaters by Central Scouting and was projected as a late first-round or early second-round pick, The Post has learned that Dallas was prepared to select the defenseman 11th overall had the Rangers made a deal to slide down two or three slots.
The Rangers haven’t had a player in the organization in McIlrath’s mold since Jeff Beukeboom was forced into retirement with post-concussion syndrome following the 1998-99 season. That ended the perfect marriage between Brian Leetch and Beukeboom.
Now, the Rangers can dream of a Next Generation replica pair featuring McIlrath (who has a greater offensive game than Beukeboom ever possessed, but then, who doesn’t?) and Michael Del Zotto. That’s what the Entry Draft is all about, isn’t it — dreams?
“I can tell you that [opposing] players are not going to like playing against this guy,” Clark said.
The Islanders hope McIlrath doesn’t particularly enjoy playing against Swiss-born right wing Nino Niederreiter, whom the club selected fifth overall even though highly rated defensemen Cam Fowler and Brandon Gormley were still on the board.
Niederreiter, who recorded 60 points (36-24) playing for WHL Portland last year, is projected as a power forward who can score. If he develops as the Islanders project, Niederreiter — who does not turn 18 until September — likely will skate with John Tavares for years to come once he earns a spot in the NHL.
The 6-2, 205-pound Niederreiter scored in both the final minute of regulation then again in OT to lift Switzerland to a stunning quarterfinal victory over Russia in last year’s World Junior Tournament.
“He plays well in big games,” said GM Garth Snow, who said he considered trading down a slot of two but didn’t want to risk losing the chance to grab his player. “We made a couple of attempts to move down but they never came to fruition.
“Unless it was one or two [slots], it didn’t make sense.”