The Rangers are dipping back into their prospect pool, recalling 2021 first-round pick Brennan Othmann as forward Adam Edstrom deals with a lower-body injury. With Edstrom potentially sidelined for the upcoming matchup against Dallas, Othmann could get another shot at NHL ice - but this time, the stakes feel higher than ever.
Now in his third season of bouncing between the NHL and AHL, Othmann has suited up for 26 NHL games and has just two assists to his name. That’s not the stat line you want to see from a former first-rounder, especially one known for his scoring touch in junior.
This season is shaping up as a critical inflection point for the 20-year-old winger. If he can’t carve out a niche soon, the Rangers may be forced to re-evaluate his long-term fit in the organization.
Under head coach Peter Laviolette last season, Othmann showed flashes of growth. He didn’t find the back of the net in his 22 NHL appearances, but his overall play looked more structured and engaged.
Still, the numbers didn’t follow. And this year, he’s only seen a single game with the big club - a game where he admittedly looked out of sync and struggled to make an impact.
Down in Hartford, the production hasn’t exactly turned heads either. Through 15 games, Othmann has posted one goal and six assists.
That’s a respectable line for a depth forward, but not quite what you’d expect from a player once touted as a top-six scoring threat. Critics have labeled him a “power play merchant,” and so far, he hasn’t done much to shake that tag.
But this recall offers opportunity. Even if he doesn’t slot into a scoring role right away, Othmann has a chance to prove he can contribute in other ways - forechecking, responsible defensive play, energy shifts.
For young players trying to stick in the NHL, it’s often not about lighting up the scoreboard right away. It’s about earning trust, shift by shift.
The Rangers don’t need Othmann to be a savior. They need him to be solid, smart, and hungry.
If he can bring that to the table, he might just buy himself more than a short-term call-up. But if not, the clock continues to tick on a once-promising prospect who’s still searching for his NHL footing.