Brennan Othmann ready for next Rangers chapter after ‘weird’ rookie season
As the New York Rangers close the book on a tumultuous 2024-25 season, disappointment hangs in the air for a squad that missed the the Stanley Cup Playoffs and failed to match the high expectations set by a record-setting season the year prior.
Long-tenured Blueshirts like Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad were open about the mental challenges the Rangers faced amidst jarring roster moves and subpar play. Those challenges, however, were not reserved for the team’s veteran leaders.
“Mentally, it was hard this year,” rookie forward Brennan Othmann told the media during the Rangers’ exit-day interviews. “It was a weird year. I think that no one could have predicted this year happening.”
Weird is an understatement. As the Rangers locker room grappled with drama, both on and off the ice, Othmann faced his own unique challenges as he attempted, first, to earn a promotion to the NHL and then solidify himself in the League this season.
The No. 16 overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft entered this season as one of the top two prospects in the organization, along with forward Gabe Perreault. Othmann fell short of making the team out of training camp, beginning the 2024-25 season in the American Hockey League with the Hartford Wolf Pack.
But when spots in the forward unit quickly opened up following a November injury to Filip Chytil and the mid-December trade of Kaapo Kakko, Othmann wasn’t in contention for an NHL call-up.
Instead, he was rehabbing from an upper-body injury sustained just three games into the AHL season. The 22-year-old was sidelined until late December, which delayed his timetable for a potential promotion.
“I’ve been lucky enough in my career where I haven’t been hurt or injured, so I’ve never really dealt with that,” Othmann shared at season’s close. “You’re sitting down there for 10 more weeks — that’s not a knock to anyone at Hartford, they nursed me back to 100 percent to be able to come back and play — I think that was just hard mentally to do that. I’ve never gone through that.”
Othmann got his first taste of NHL action during New York’s Presidents’ Trophy campaign, appearing in three games in early January without recording a point before spending the rest of his 2023-24 season in the AHL, helping an underdog Wolf Pack squad reach the Atlantic Division Final. He was second on Hartford with 21 goals in his rookie pro season.
The call this season didn’t happen until late February, after he was fully healthy and totaled 12 goals and 20 points in 27 games with Hartford. However, playing mostly a bottom-six role with limited ice-time in New York, Othmann didn’t score a goal and had only two assists in 22 games with the Rangers.
“I’m still pretty upset that I wasn’t able to do more offensively,” admitted Othmann. “I think that’s just a goal going into the summertime. I know I can do more offensively. The organization knows I can do more offensively”
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Brennan Othmann has ‘clear mind’ heading into Rangers offseason
Despite limited production on the stat sheet, Othmann remains confident as he embarks on an important offseason.
“I felt like I’ve played good hockey when I was here. The stats may not look like it, but I’ve been told, and I’ve personally thought, that I’ve played good hockey when I’m in the lineup,” said Othmann, who is a plus-seven in 25 career NHL games and made an impact with his physical play.
“I think there’s obviously some games where I can look back and go, ‘I could have been better that game,’ but I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself at such a young age with the guys in this locker room.”
Next season presents an intriguing opportunity. Othmann carved out a regular role in a forward unit that still boasts plenty of experience. However, he’ll battle fellow up-and-comers like Brett Berard and Perrault for playing time, plus any new additions that general manager Chris Drury brings in this offseason.
Perhaps most importantly, he’ll need to impress a new coach after Peter Laviolette was fired.
“It’s just a new face, new eyes looking at you. Whoever it is may not know who I am or know my game or anything like that,” Othmann noted. “All I have to do is just impress them and be noticeable. And that’s just the thing I thought I’ve been doing since I came up here — be noticeable and take each day by the horns.”
The latest reports indicate that the Rangers are in advanced contract talks with Mike Sullivan, who recently parted ways with the Pittsburgh Penguins after 10 seasons as their coach. Although nothing has been made official yet, it’s looking like the two-time Stanley Cup champion will be the man Othmann needs to impress.
“Just having the mindset of coming back and earning a spot on this team,” said Othmann, when asked about his goals for next season “Nothing’s given to you and you’ve gotta earn everything in this league.”
Othmann shared that he would take some time off the ice after talking to teammates and other players around the League, shifting the focus to improving his physical attributes in the gym.
While by no means a lock to break camp with the Rangers next fall, his extended run in the NHL at the close of the 2024-25 season certainly makes him a more viable option than in prior years.
“I want to work on everything. I love the game, I love learning — I’m a hockey nerd,” he quipped. “It’s gonna be a longer summer to train and work out. That’s the biggest thing at such a younger age in this league is just get bigger and stronger and faster. That’s just the goal to keep up at this level.”
Ultimately, the former first-round pick will be evaluated on his ability to produce offensively. Despite managing just two points in 25 career games, Othmann’s confidence is seemingly unshaken.
“I’ve produced at every level that I can possibly produce at,” Othmann declared. “I’ve produced in the OHL, I’ve produced in Switzerland, in the American League, so I’m not too worried about the production. I’m just gonna go into the summer with a clear mind, being healthy, work out, get stronger, and come back ready to go in September.”
