Roster Transaction? Rangers top prospect to be recalled to the NHL as struggles progress
The New York Rangers are desperately looking to change things around for their season as the new year starts, and with several players struggling they have been encouraged to give Brennan Othmann a call.
With news of the New York Rangers core being demolished, it looks like the team will have to shift gears to keep the offense flowing.
They could look to Hartford in order to shore up their offensive output, and one of those players isn't
Matthew Rempe as he's currently still suspended for his hit on
Miro Heiskanen, the player they should consider is Brennan Othmann.
It seemed as if Othmann was destined to make the team in 2024-2025 out of camp, but Peter Laviolette decided he needed more seasoning in the AHL.
This season, 2020 fifth-round draft pick
Brett Berard earned a shot with the club. While not dynamic, he's a workhorse who has done enough to impress the coaching staff and get an extensive stay in the NHL early in his professional career.
He scored 13 points in 16 games in the American Hockey League before earning a call-up.
While the team is currently in flux, and players like
Jacob Trouba,
Kaapo Kakko, and eventually
Mika Zibanejad could be moved elsewhere, it seems as if they could afford to give him another look in the NHL.
This season with the Hartford Wolf Pack, Othmann has posted six points (two goals, four assists) in five games, a 1.2-point-per-game pace. Of course, it's too early to judge, but his production is up significantly from his 0.73-pace in 2023-24.
Even if Othmann cools down a little to a point-per-game pace, it's still a notable improvement.
While Peter Laviolette wasn't going to attempt to rush Othmann's development, the stark situation the team is in gives the Rangers openings, that could inspire a youth movement.
Seeing as Brett Berard has lasted longer in the NHL than we thought he could, the simple question is why not?
Othmann is known for his pace coming down the wing, and his chippy game. We know he can shoot the puck, with 50 goals in 66 games with the Flint Firebirds of the Ontario Hockey League as a teenager.
The 2021 first-round pick could provide the Rangers with much-needed energy.
With Matt Rempe being suspended, that opens a spot for him, while he could find a role on the fourth line replacing
Jonny Brodzinski,
Jimmy Vesey or even Wolfpack teammate Berard in the lineup.
The Rangers can protect Rempe while waiving him, and give Othmann another chance this season.
Rempe and Vesey would be the easiest choices to move off the roster to make room for Othmann.
Rempe does not require waivers, so losing him wouldn't be an issue. Vesey will become an unrestricted free agent after the season and may have no future with the organization.
Or if they don't plan on re-signing Vesey, they could always waive him as well.
Do you think Brennan Othmann should be playing in the National Hockey League with the New York Rangers?
Previously on NYRangersInsider
POLL |
JANVIER 4 | 1285 ANSWERS Roster Transaction? Rangers top prospect to be recalled to the NHL as struggles progress Should Brennan Othmann be called up to the New York Rangers roster? |
Yes | 1074 | 83.6 % |
No | 211 | 16.4 % |
List of polls |
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