The Calgary Flames are gearing up for their final game of a six-game homestand with a fresh addition to their lineup. On Saturday morning, the team announced the recall of forward Brennan Othmann from the AHL's Calgary Wranglers.
Othmann, a 23-year-old left winger from Ontario, honed his skills in the OHL with the Flint Firebirds and the Peterborough Petes, even serving as captain in Flint for two seasons. During the OHL's 2020-21 COVID pause, he took his talents to Switzerland, playing for EHC Olten. Drafted 16th overall by the New York Rangers in 2021, Othmann was a first-round pick, following closely behind the Flames' selection of Matt Coronato.
Now in the third and final season of his entry-level contract, Othmann has split his time between the NHL's Rangers and the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack before being traded to the Flames at this year's deadline in exchange for prospect Jacob Battaglia. In his 42 NHL games with the Rangers, Othmann primarily played a depth role, tallying one goal and two assists. In contrast, his AHL performance has been more robust, with 41 goals and 49 assists over 130 games.
As Othmann approaches restricted free agency, this stint with the Flames provides a valuable opportunity for both him and the team to assess his fit within their forward group. Known for his physical and agitating style, Othmann is eager to carve out his niche with the Flames after struggling to do so with the Rangers.
The Flames have used the third of their five post-trade deadline call-ups with Othmann's recall. With a limit of only four players on regular recalls at a time, they have just one more slot available before needing to send someone back. Currently, Matvei Gridin and Hunter Brzustewicz are also up on regular call-ups.
With Othmann's arrival, the Flames' active roster now includes 26 players: two goaltenders, eight defensemen, and 16 forwards, accounting for injured players Connor Zary and Yan Kuznetsov. Notably, there is no roster limit post-trade deadline.
The Flames will wrap up their homestand on Saturday night as they face off against the Vancouver Canucks. Fans will be eager to see how Othmann integrates into the lineup and what impact he might have as the team looks to solidify their standing.