The New York Rangers might be one of the first teams to make an early-season move, as there has already been interest in former first-round pick Brennan Othmann.
Drafted 16th overall in 2021, he didn’t see any NHL action until making his debut in 2023-24, playing three games. He followed that up with 22 games last season, recording just two assists. The 22-year-old failed to make the Rangers out of training camp and is back in the AHL.
Elliotte Friedman reported that there’s at least one name already gaining traction. After making note that Othmann didn’t make the opening night roster of the Rangers, he said, “…since that occurred, there’s been conversations with other clubs about his future.”
Rangers have Plenty of Competition on the Wings
The Rangers aren’t short on prospects that can slide in on the wings, and there lies the problem for Othmann finding a place in New York. Friedman continued, “The Rangers have a lot on the wings and it simply may be that he needs a fresh start elsewhere.”
He noted that there are discussions about the next step of his career. The time is ticking as Othmann isn’t that young and has plenty of pro hockey experience now. In two-plus seasons in the AHL, his production hasn’t been stellar or off the charts, but it has been solid and worth a look in the NHL.
As a 20-year-old rookie, Othmann scored 21 goals and 49 points in 67 games in the AHL, then followed that up last season with 12 goals and 20 points in 27 games. He has an assist in his one game of action down in the AHL with the Hartford Wolfpack this season.
Not including Alexis Lafreniere or Will Cuylle, who are young players that were obvious locks to make the Rangers, young forwards/wings that were kept on the roster over Othmann include Juuso Parssinen, Noah Laba, Adam Edstrom, and Matt Rempe. Even a league-minimum signing in Conor Sheary and Jonny Brodzinski made the roster over Othmann.
In the AHL, Othmann has to at least contend with Gabriel Perrault, Brett Berard, Brendan Brisson, Adam Sykora, Trey Fix-Wolansky, and potentially Dylan Roobroeck. Still developing in the NCAA, who will make it on the scene is Malcolm Spence too.
Rangers Not In a Position to Develop in NHL
The New York Rangers are not in a position to develop talent in the NHL, even though it’s not a bad idea to have some younger players mixed in. That is what they have, but the young and inexperienced players earned their spots. Someone like Laba forced his way onto the team and the depth isn’t the greatest to not have had limited spots for him not to do that.
Othmann just didn’t impress as much as some others, which doesn’t mean he won’t see NHL ice time again, maybe even with the Rangers. But it is a bit more crowded in the Rangers’ system than some other teams and that could spell a trade that Friedman may be alluding to soon.
As a former first-round pick, Othmann doesn’t have the most time in the world to prove he can stick around in the NHL before his value falls off completely and he isn’t given the chance to prove himself anymore.
Rangers’ Prospect Receiving Trade Interest