Rangers recall Brennan Othmann ahead of game vs. Devils
Brennan Othmann was recalled by the New York Rangers ahead of their game against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on Thursday.
There’s no word yet if the forward will be in the lineup. Othmann was recalled from Hartford of the American hockey League as a precaution because both Artemi Panarin and Jimmy Vesey are day to day with lower-body injuries.
The Rangers don’t have a morning skate Thursday and coach Peter Laviolette will meet with the media before 5 p.m.
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Rangers recall Brennan Othmann as injury insurance for Devils game
Othmann is second on Hartford and fourth among AHL rookies with 36 points in 44 games this season. He is tied for second with 14 goals and his eight power-play goals lead the Wolf Pack.
The 21-year-old was the Rangers’ first-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft (No. 16 overall). He made his NHL debut on Jan. 4 against the Chicago Blackhawks, impressing with five shots on goal in 12:26 of ice-time. He played two more games, seeing far less ice time, before being returned to Hartford.
Neither Panarin nor Vesey practiced Wednesday. Each was hurt in a 3-1 win against the Dallas Stars the night before, though each forward finished the game. Panarin had an assist and played nearly 20 minutes.
Vesey has been skating on the top line with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider the past two games since Blake Wheeler sustained a season-ending lower-body injury last week.
Laviolette said Wednesday that he’s spoken to Wheeler and shared texts with him since the injury.
“He’s doing as well as he could be,” the coach shared.
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