Mezue ahịrịokwu na-esonụ: McIlrath nwere ogige ọzụzụ dara ogbenye na 2016 wee nọrọ akụkụ mbụ nke oge 2016-17 dị ka onye na-agbachitere nchekwa, na-eme naanị otu ọdịdị na otu ahụ tupu etinye ya na nkwụsị na October 27. E kenyere ya ka ọ kpọọ egwuregwu anọ na AHL na Wolf Pack tupu ndị Rangers gbanwere ya na Florida Panthers na mgbanwe maka D Steven Kampfer na nhọrọ nke 7th gburugburu na November 8, 2016. Mgbe egwuregwu ise na Panthers, na oge na AHL na mmekọ, Springfield Thunderbirds, a gbanwere Mcllrath maka oge nke abụọ n'ime oge a site na Panthers na Detroit Red Wings tinyere nhọrọ nke atọ nke atọ na
2017 NHL Entry Draft na mgbanwe maka Thomas Vanek na Machị 1, 2017. E kenyere ya na ngalaba AHL nke Red Wings, Grand Rapids Griffins. McIlrath dekọtara enyemaka anọ na egwuregwu 21 maka Griffins n'oge oge oge. N'oge asọmpi Calder Cup nke 2017, o dekọtara enyemaka ise, na akara kachasị mma nke otu egwuregwu na-agbakwunye 10 na egwuregwu 19 nke playoff, ma nyere aka duzie ndị Griffins na Calder Cup.