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Why Brennan Othmann recall is the right move for Rangers
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- Why Brennan Othmann recall is the right move for Rangers
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Brennan Othmann's NHL promotion nine games into the New York Rangers ' season comes as something of a surprise.
Othmann was called up from Hartford of the American Hockey League on Friday, hours after 6-foot-9 forward Matt Rempe was injured in a first-period fight with former Blueshirt Ryan Reaves during New York's 6-5 overtime loss to the San Jose Sharks . He didn't return and didn't make the trip when the Rangers flew west to begin a road trip against Calgary Flames on Sunday.
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The recall came after a lackluster preseason that saw Othmann assigned to the AHL ahead of Brett Berard and Gabe Perreault, offering reason to believe he had fallen behind them among the Rangers' forward prospects.
Berard and Perreault are likely still rated higher at this juncture, but New York recalled Othmann from Hartford prior to the four-game Western trip.
Othmann scored one goal on seven shots in four preseason games while leading the Rangers with 15 penalty minutes. It's been more of the same with the Wolf Pack, who were 1-3-0 with Othmann in the lineup and lost 3-0 to the Bridgeport Islanders without him on Friday. He had one assist and seven shots on goal through four games before the recall.
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The Rangers' first pick (No. 16 overall) in the 2021 draft got some extended NHL time during the latter stages of last season. He played 22 games from February to April but struggled to make an impact, failing to score a goal and finishing with two assists.
The Rangers are 3-4-1 entering their first long trip of the 2025-26 season, including an 0-4-1 start at Madison Square Garden — the first time they've failed to get a win in their first five home games since 1943-44.
It's a complicated time for a once-heralded prospect to join the Blueshirts — though given the circumstances, it's the move that makes the most sense.
Brennan Othmann profiles as best fit for the Rangers right now
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Perreault would be the most exciting call-up, and the 20-year-old likely boasts the highest offensive ceiling of the three. But it's become evident that the Rangers believe the No. 23 overall pick in 2023 could use more seasoning in the AHL after a going scoreless in a five-game NHL stint after signing with the Rangers in April.
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That leaves Berard and Othmann as the two most sensible options. But while Berard was the more impressive of the two last season and lasted until the final cut at camp, Othmann could be what the Rangers need right now.
Berard left a strong first impression in 2024-25, displaying a high-energy, high-intensity style that makes him a natural fit in New York's bottom-six forward group. The only problem is, the Rangers are getting plenty of that already.
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At 5-foot-9, Berard's game is fairly similar to that of 5-foot-8 veteran Conor Sheary , albeit with more upside at just 23 years old. But in this day and age, carrying two forwards that small is unusual.
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Berard scored six goals in 35 NHL games last season, but he's off to a less-than-ideal start in the AHL this season — with no points and a minus-5 rating. Granted, few players are shining on a Wolf Pack squad that's struggled mightily through five games, but it's not as if Berard had thoroughly outplayed Othmann to earn a call-up.
What the Rangers most desperately need is some help in their top six, especially with center Vincent Trocheck still out with an upper-body injury. The Rangers have had plenty of scoring chances but have struggled to turn those opportunities into goals, especially at home.
Rangers would love to improve Brennan Othmann's trade value
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Othmann has no goals on 26 shots on goal in the NHL, so bringing him up to boost the offense may not sound like the best of plans. Admittedly, the odds of him magically becoming a consistent goal-scorer don't appear to be high. But if coach Mike Sullivan is looking for a young spark who could theoretically plug into the top six — and Perreault is off the table — Othmann's offensive ceiling trumps that of Berard.
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Assuming Rempe will be out for a bit, it's worth at least seeing if Othmann can give the Rangers another scoring option.
But there could be more behind the callup than meets the eye. On Oct. 16, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reported that Othmann was drawing interest from teams around the League.
Vince Mercogliano of The Athletic corroborated this report on Thursday.
"The Rangers have reached a point with Othmann where they are open to the idea of trading him ," Mercogliano said on his podcast, The Flying V . "It really sounds like any of the young wingers, they are open to the idea of trading, except for Perreault."
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Othmann is two years removed from a 21-goal season in the AHL and four years removed from a 50-goal, 97-point performance in the OHL. His value is no longer at the level that made him the top prospect in New York's system.
Injury derailed his 2024-25 season in Hartford, and after an underwhelming showing in the NHL, the clock is ticking for a player who turns 23 on Jan. 5.
Look no further than forward Vitali Kravtsov, the No. 9 overall pick in 2018, or defenseman Zac Jones, their 2019 third-round pick. Both were heralded prospects who the Rangers held on to even after their development stalled — ultimately netting little to no value.
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The Blueshirts traded Kravtsov to the Vancouver Canucks in 2023, receiving a 2026 seventh-rounder and a player, William Lockwood, who they released at the conclusion of the season. Jones wasn't tendered a qualifying offer after last season and signed with the Buffalo Sabres ; he's currently with their AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans.
It would be a shame to see Othmann follow a similar path, and the Rangers can ill-afford yet another first-round total misfire to go along with Kravtsov and Lias Andersson (No. 7 overall in 2017).
If nothing else, giving Othmann another chance to play in the NHL could let them showcase him for potential suitors. With his entry-level contract expiring after this season, general manager Chris Drury is running out of time to salvage any meaningful trade value. While Othmann won't command the same return he might have several years ago, a strong showing could be enough to net the Rangers something more than a mid- or late-round draft pick.
Should Othmann draw into the lineup on a regular basis, he'll have the opportunity to earn an NHL role — whether in New York or elsewhere.
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