Rangers’ Brennan Othmann avoids hearing, suspension after major penalty
Fortunately for Brennan Othmann, he won’t spend the first off day of New York Rangers training camp sitting in a hearing with NHL Department of Player Safety.
The League isn’t considering supplemental discipline for the 22-year-old forward after he was assessed a five-minute major penalty and game misconduct for elbowing New Jersey Devils defenseman Calen Addison in the head during a preseason game Sunday.
The incident occurred at 16:37 of the third period. Addison had his head down, playing the puck along the extended goal line near the corner in New Jersey’s end of the ice. Rangers forward Taylor Raddysh was right behind him.
Othmann came in at high speed on left wing and went right through Addison with a big hit. It’s difficult to see on replay whether Othmann’s shoulder or elbow connected with Addison. But it does seem clear that the initial contact is the head.
Addison fell to the ice and didn’t play another shift. Othmann was ejected from the game and New Jersey scored one goal during the five-minute major, a 5-on-3 tally after Urho Vaakanainen also ended up in the penalty box for a cross-checking minor at 17:25. The Rangers still won the game, 5-3.
Related: Key Rangers takeaways from 5-3 win against Devils in preseason opener
Brennan Othman not suspended, continues to compete for roster spot with Rangers
Othmann skates a fine line here. He’s in a serious battle to earn a spot on the opening-night roster. So, Othmann must show coach Mike Sullivan he’s capable of playing a fast, hard, physical style, which are staples of his game. But Othmann must be smart, too. So, the Rangers certainly hope he learned a lesson about crossing the line with the hit Sunday.
That he wasn’t suspended must bring a sigh of relief to Othmann. The 2021 first-round pick needs each and every chance in the preseason to prove to the new coaching staff he’s capable of being an NHL regular. Last season, the 6-foot, 192-pounder had his first extended run with the Rangers, but failed to score a goal and had just two assists in 22 games.
Othmann got off to a great start this month, dominating rookie camp and two games against Philadelphia Flyers prospects, totaling five points (one goal, four assists). He was fine against the Devils, skating on a line with Raddysh and Justin Dowling, and had one noticeable scoring chance off the rush early in the third period.
However, his competition for a roster spot and likely place on the third line stood out more Sunday. Fellow first-rounder Gabe Perreault (2023) scored the game’s first goal, excelled cycling the puck in the offensive zone, and simply was flying out there. Conor Sheary, a 33-year-old in camp on a PTO, scored on a breakaway and was a buzzsaw in all three zones, skating on a line with Perreault and Jusso Parssinen.
It didn’t help Othmann’s case for making the team that Jonny Brodzinski also scored a goal against the Devils. Brodzinski feels like a lock to at least be the 13th forward, if not a third-line option at center or on the wing.
Since he wasn’t suspended, Othmann has a full runway — including as many as five more preseason games — to prove himself over the course of training camp. For that, he must feel even just a bit fortunate.
