Rangers’ Prospect Patience Backfires: The Brennan Othmann Dilemma
At the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline, the New York Rangers found themselves at a familiar crossroads: go all-in for a Cup run or hold tight to their top prospects. Their name was linked heavily to Pittsburgh Penguins winger Jake Guentzel, who was one of the biggest names on the market. But when the dust settled, Guentzel ended up in Carolina-not New York-and the Rangers stood pat.
Fast forward to the playoffs: Guentzel and the Hurricanes were bounced by the Rangers, but New York’s run ended one round later at the hands of the Florida Panthers. And while we’ll never know if Guentzel could’ve tipped that series in the Rangers’ favor, what we can examine is why the Rangers didn’t make the move-and how their approach to prospect management may have cost them.
The Trade That Wasn’t
According to reports at the time, the Penguins were asking for a significant return for Guentzel. Names like Brennan Othmann and Gabe Perreault were floated in conversations.
The Rangers, understandably, were reluctant to part with Perreault, a high-upside forward with a strong development trajectory. Othmann, however, was a different case-still a valuable piece, but not a can't-miss star.
The Rangers chose to hold onto both.
The rationale was clear: Guentzel was a rental. He was likely headed elsewhere in free agency, and Othmann represented years of cost-controlled potential.
That logic isn’t flawed-but it’s also not bulletproof. Especially when you’re in win-now mode.
What’s Othmann Worth Now?
Since then, Brennan Othmann has played 37 professional games without scoring a single goal. That’s not a typo.
The former first-round pick has struggled to make an impact, and it’s becoming increasingly clear that he’s fallen out of favor. Mike Sullivan, who’s never been shy about his expectations, seems to have moved on.
And now the Rangers are left holding a depreciated asset.
This is where the risk-reward equation becomes very real. A year ago, Othmann might have been enough to land a legitimate top-six winger like Guentzel.
Today? His trade value has plummeted.
It’s a stark reminder of the volatility that comes with prospects, even highly touted ones.
The Prospect Myth
There’s a popular refrain among fans and front offices alike: don’t mortgage the future. But in a league where the future is anything but guaranteed, that mindset can be dangerous. For every prospect who blossoms into a star, there are a dozen who fade into irrelevance.
Look around the NHL. Brad Lambert in Winnipeg.
Pavel Mintyukov in Anaheim. Both were once hyped prospects who’ve seen their stock drop.
It’s not a knock on their talent-it’s just the nature of development in a league where the margin for error is razor thin.
That’s why contending teams need to be aggressive. Not reckless, but aggressive.
If a player projects as a middle-six forward or second-pair defenseman, that’s valuable-but also replaceable. Especially if it means adding a true difference-maker for a playoff run.
The Bigger Picture
This isn’t about advocating for a fire sale on every young player in the system. If you’ve got a generational talent, you hold onto them.
If a prospect has little value, there’s no point in moving them just to make a move. But the middle tier-the guys with legitimate value but uncertain ceilings-that’s where contenders should be willing to deal.
Because let’s face it: the goal isn’t just to be good. It’s to win it all.
The Rangers had a real shot last season. Their core was healthy, Igor Shesterkin was locked in, and their blue line was playing some of its best hockey.
Adding Guentzel could’ve been the move that put them over the top. Instead, they played it safe-and now they’re left wondering what might have been.
Looking Ahead
The Rangers will be back in the mix. With the talent they have on the roster and in the pipeline, they’re not going away anytime soon. But when the next big opportunity comes around-when the next Guentzel-type becomes available-they’ll have to make a choice.
And next time, the smart play might be to push the chips in.
Because in this league, the window doesn’t stay open forever. And sometimes, the right move isn’t holding onto a prospect-it’s knowing when to let go.