New York Rangers Former First-Overall Draft Pick Enters Training Camp Looking To Make An Impact
This season will be important for forward Brennan Othmann, who will have to live up to his draft selection at 16th overall in 2021. To break into the lineup, he'll have to convince both Mike Sullivan and Chris Drury that he's capable of handling his duties in the NHL as a depth forward to start his career.
With training camp firing up in the next few weeks, the New York Rangers will have a plethora of options to choose from. Free agency acquisitions will find themselves competing for spots in the lineup.
While forward Brennan Othmann will have to find a way to beat out other players who are intent on pushing him out of a spot in camp.
He was drafted 16th overall in 2021 and has yet to make the team out of training camp, though we thought he might have a chance last season. Peter Laviolette felt it was best that he spend more time in the AHL.
Last season, he'd play 22 games in the NHL with the Rangers and would fail to make an impact. Though he'd score 2 points (2 A), he failed to score his first NHL goal. While other players in his draft class have left him behind:
Wyatt Johnston (23rd overall), Zachary Bolduc (17th overall), Logan Stankoven (47th overall), and Matthew Knies (57th overall) are just an example of players who are already making an impact at the NHL level. Othmann's major claim to fame thus far is a line of 33-36-69 in 94 AHL games.
Brennan Othmann's Chances in the NHL are Diminishing
If he fails to capitalize on the opportunity he has to break through into the NHL this season, he could become a trade chip, should his value wane over time. Othmann has been too good for the minors, but hasn't been able to do what he needs to justify staying in the NHL.
Per Evolving-Hockey, Othmann posted a 70.06 goals for percentage, a 53.51 Corsi for percentage, and a 51.69 expected goals for percentage this past season. The Rangers as a team scored 3.41 goals for per 60 minutes, and conceded just 1.46 against. These numbers came during just 214 minutes at 5v5, and in 22 total games he had just a pair of assists while averaging 9:58 per game.
As the picture illustrated by Evolving-Hockey shows, he has good underlying numbers, but his sample size in the league has been too small.
If he continues to post these kinds of numbers during training camp and beyond, he should have no trouble finding a spot in the lineup and beating out players like Brett Berard on the left wing.
But the competition will be fierce, as the retool has opened up spots on the ice, which will be coveted.
Previously on NY Hockey Insider
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 7 | 42 ANSWERS New York Rangers Former First-Overall Draft Pick Enters Training Camp Looking To Make An Impact Do you think forward Brennan Othmann will make the New York Rangers lineup? | ||
| Yes | 27 | 64.3 % |
| No | 15 | 35.7 % |
| List of polls | ||