What Rangers coach is looking for from Brennan Othmann, Adam Edstrom
It’s early in training camp, but New York Rangers coach Peter Laviolette has already said repeatedly that he doesn’t want “to box people in or out” of opportunities. In a camp where there’s not a lot of open spots on the roster, Laviolette is preaching that there’s always room for competition and players who want to force the issue.
To that end, the coach refused to say that Zac Jones will definitely replace Erik Gustafsson as a regular on the third defense pair this season. Nor has he said Matt Rempe will make the team based on his performance last season.
Of course, it’s safe to say that each has a leg up on the competition in camp, with Jones, specifically, looking to be a lock as a regular on the defense corps after three seasons as an extra defenseman.
“It’s training camp. There is always an opportunity for you to jump out of your shoes, knock us in the head and say ‘I am here. I have arrived.’ Then from there that makes us look at everything, at the entire situation,” Laviolette explained Wednesday. “Those are good things to have within an organization. People that are ready as they get put into situations.”
But reality is the Rangers are locked into six defensemen, so they need to decide who’s the extra one on the roster. And 11 of the 13 forwards are set, leaving two spots that need to be filled, though Rempe and Jonny Brodzinski are clear favorites to do so.
So, where does that leave the other 40 or so skaters in camp? Many are youngsters who are trying to learn and make a good early impression. Then there are others trying to establish themselves as options for call-ups from Hartford of the American Hockey League when need arises on the varsity.
Then there’s Brennan Othmann and Adam Edstrom. They are the two forwards knocking on the NHL door, closest to earning a role with the Rangers. But will they get that chance to kick the door in?
Related: Reilly Smith gets to play with ‘two unbelievable players’ on 1st day of Rangers camp
Brennan Othmann, Adam Edstrom knocking on door for Rangers opportunity
Othmann scored 21 goals as a rookie pro last season with Hartford and played his first three NHL games with the Rangers. The 21-year-old is the best prospect in camp, but likely needs to earn a top-nine role to avoid being sent back to the AHL. There’s little to gain by keeping Othmann with the big club only to be a fourth-line player.
Edstrom, though, is Rempe and Brodzinski’s main challenge for one of the final forwards spots on the roster. The 23-year-old just scored three goals in two rookie games against the Philadelphia Flyers last week, had two goals in 11 games with the Rangers last season and 11 in 40 games with Hartford.
On many NHL teams, these two would be in good position to make the opening-night roster. With this deep Rangers team, it won’t be so easy.
So, what does Laviolette need to see from these two young forwards in this training camp that could alter plans?
“You want to see them go into the games and make an impact, you want to see them be difference makers,” the coach said Thursday. “You’re watching them in practice. You’re watching them in testing. How they came into camp and the maturity physically from last year. Then you watch the game and it’s another year of experience under their belt … and to see the impact they make.”
Edstrom is not the prospect Othmann, a 2021 first-round, is. But the 6-foot-7 forward might have the better chance to land a roster spot since he can fit on the fourth line or be the 13th forward, slotting in when needed. He’d have to beat out the popular Rempe, though.
“You see a guy score three goals down there (in rookie games), that’s somebody who’s trying to make some noise,” Laviolette noted.
To make an impact, Othmann must share ice time with skilled players. That would mean a top-six role — top nine at worst — on Broadway. So, Othmann would need to blow everyone away the next few weeks and possibly grab the right-wing role on a line with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider. However, veteran Reilly Smith is getting first whack at that spot.
“You look for continued growth inside of training camp … as the lineups get put in and they become more NHL veteran players, you want to see that impact continue to happen,” Laviolette explained.
Nobody is boxed in or out. Let’s see what that means for both Othmann and Edstrom as camp progresses and preseason games are played.
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