Rangers assign 11 players to AHL Hartford, including Brennan Othmann
The New York Rangers trimmed their training camp roster Tuesday, and Brennan Othmann was among 11 players assigned to the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League.
Despite a strong showing at rookie camp and in two games against Philadelphia Flyers prospects, Othmann wasn’t as impressive once training camp started two weeks ago. The 2021 first-round pick appeared in all four preseason games to date, and registered one point, a power-play goal against the New York Islanders in a 5-4 loss last week.
That goal was a beauty, a snipe from the left circle. It showcased part of what makes Othmann an enticing prospect, one who scored 50 goals in 66 games with Flint in the OHL during the 2021-22 season.
However, Othmann’s overall game lacked consistency this preseason, which was evident in his performance during a 3-2 overtime win against the Islanders on Monday. It didn’t help his chances to crack the opening-night roster that forwards Gabe Perreault and Conor Sheary, in camp on a PTO, outplayed him.
Rangers coach Mike Sullivan stated that he’s clearly communicated to the 22-year-old what areas must be improved on moving forward.
“A lot of the discussion we had just talked about conscientious play, attention to detail defensively, away from the puck. Playing within structure. Having some predictability and reliability and dependability around his game,” Sullivan explained Tuesday. “I think if he can add more detail around those things — and essentially that’s what it boils down to, it’s attention to detail in all zones on both sides of the puck, in particular the defensive side of the puck.”
This will be the third consecutive season since turning pro Othmann starts out at Hartford. The 22-year-old forward was among the final cuts from Rangers camp a year ago, one season after he scored 21 goals with Hartford.
Othmann played 22 games with the Rangers last season and managed two assists, largely in a bottom-six role where he averaged 9:58 TOI. He missed two months early in the season with Hartford due to an upper-body injury.
In 25 games over two seasons with the Rangers, Othmann still seeks his first NHL goal.
“As I said to ‘Otter,’ just because this decision was made today doesn’t mean there’s finality to it and that the opportunity no longer exists. It very much exists and will continue to exist,” Sullivan said.
Rangers reduce roster to 29 with 1 week left in training camp
The Rangers also sent 10 other players back to their minor-league affiliate in Hartford. Goalies Dylan Garand and Talyn Boyko; defenseman Derrick Pouliot; and forwards Dylan Roobroeck, Carey Terrance, Bryce McConnell-Barker, Anton Blidh, Justin Dowling, and Trey Fix-Wolansky were cut by the Rangers on Monday.
The Rangers have 29 players remaining on their training camp roster, though that number is really 27 since defenseman Connor Mackey and forward Brendan Brisson were placed on waivers Tuesday. Assuming neither is claimed by another NHL team by Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET, they also will be assigned to Hartford.
Garand is the clear cut No. 1 goalie in Hartford, and New York’s first option if something happens during the season to Igor Shesterkin or Jonathan Quick. The fourth-year pro was an AHL All-Star last season, and had an up and down preseason with the Rangers.
Roobroeck had a goal and an assist in three preseason games, typically skating on a line with another towering forward, Matt Rempe. The 21-year-old heads back to Hartford, where he led the Wolf Pack with 20 goals last season.
Terrance had a quiet camp and preseason after the 20-year-old center was acquired from the Anaheim Ducks this summer in the Chris Kreider trade. Brisson, a former first-round pick by the Vegas Golden Knights in 2020, failed to make much noise in two preseason contests. And Mackey remains in line as a veteran depth defenseman after he contributed two assists against the Islanders on Monday and racked up nine penalty minutes, including one fight, in two preseason games.
Earlier in the week, the Rangers released veteran defenseman Andrej Sustr from his PTO, and assigned five player to Hartford on Monday.
