With Artemi Panarin sidelined as the Rangers work toward a trade, New York has turned to the next man up. The team announced it has recalled forward Brett Berard from the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, marking his fourth call-up of the season. And while he’s no stranger to the NHL roster, Berard’s role remains a work in progress.
So far this year, Berard has suited up for 12 games with the big club, logging just over 10 minutes per night and still looking for his first NHL point of the season. He’s been used primarily in a bottom-six role, and that’s likely where he’ll slot in again-assuming he cracks the lineup.
It’s a bit of a step back in terms of NHL exposure compared to last season, when the 2020 fifth-round pick appeared in 35 games for the Rangers. In that stretch, he tallied six goals and 10 points while averaging nearly identical ice time (10:43) to what he’s seen this year. His defensive numbers then were a bit of a mixed bag-he finished the 2024-25 campaign with a -6 rating and an on-ice save percentage of 89.2% at even strength, a stat that often reflects a player’s defensive impact.
But here’s the encouraging part: Berard’s defensive game has taken a noticeable leap. In fewer appearances this season, he’s posted a 95.0% on-ice save percentage at even strength-a significant improvement that suggests he’s rounding out his game and earning more trust from the coaching staff.
Offensively, he’s continued to show flashes in the AHL. Through 30 games with Hartford this season, Berard has notched six goals and 18 points-matching his game total from last year, when he had nine goals and 23 points in the same number of contests. That consistency in production is a good sign for a young player still developing his two-way game.
With the Rangers expected to be active ahead of the March 6 trade deadline, the door could open wider for Berard in the coming weeks. More roster movement often means more chances for players on the bubble, and if Berard can capitalize, he may very well surpass last season’s NHL games played total.
For now, his return to the lineup is a reminder of the organizational depth the Rangers have been building-and the importance of young players stepping up when opportunity knocks.