Rangers Roundup: Andrew Copp faces former team, Brennan Othmann comparable, and more
Andrew Copp is enjoying being in the midst of a playoff run with his new team. Tonight at Madison Square Garden, he faces off against his former squad, the Winnipeg Jets.
“I don’t know, I think you kind of prepare for it all that you want to, but once you get onto the ice for warmup and see them, it’s going to be a little weird,” he said after practice on Monday.
Copp, 27, was acquired by the Rangers at the NHL Trade Deadline for prospect, Morgan Barron, two conditional second-round picks, and a 2023 5th-round pick in 2023.
Andrew Copp faces former team
The Winnipeg Jets drafted Copp in the fourth round of the 2013 NHL Draft. He played over 7 years there and amassed 184 points in 467 games during that time.
“First and foremost all the friendships,” Copp recalled about his time with the Jets. “I feel like I had a pretty good relationship with everyone in the room… Not just the players, but the staff and the coaches and everything like that. Obviously, that changes when you come to a new team and it’s been great here as well. But just the amount of people that had an impact on me, that I’m close with there, is kind of hard to measure.”
Since joining the Rangers, Copp has made his presence known as he’s averaging a point a game (13 points in 13 contests).
“I expected for him to be a good solid player,” head coach Gerard Gallant said via the team’s YouTube Channel. “He’s playing with some really skilled guys so he’s getting more points than I thought he would. I like what he’s brought to our team… I like the way that he plays an overall game. He’s scored some big goals for us and made some good plays.”
New York will look to get a win tonight and move into a first-place tie with the Carolina Hurricanes for the Metro Division. More details here.
Brennan Othmann comparable
It’s been an incredible season for the New York Rangers first-round selection of the 2021 Draft, Brennan Othmann.
The 19 year-old captain of the Flint Firebirds has registered 50 goals and 97 points in 66 games per the OHL’s website.
I noted on Twitter that the Rangers may have a gem of a prospect to which noted prospect guru Craig Button of TSN responded with: “May? Do Have.”
He then followed up with an interesting note about the prospect.
“Keep this in mind,” Craig Button continued. “Brennan like a lot of players had significant disruptions in their development. He has been a major factor in the success of Flint. I think his game is more like that of Jason Robertson.”
The Dallas Stars selected Robertson in the second round of the 2017 Draft. He’s another big winger playing in his second season in the NHL (his first full season).
This season, the 22 year-old has been excellent for Dallas with 36 goals and 70 points in 68 games.
Not a bad comparable if you ask me.
Othmann has been nothing short of impressive this year. He’s also versatile enough to play the opposite wing if needed and plays in all situations. Of his 50 goals, 13 have come on the power play and 4 shorthanded.
In August, Othmann signed his entry level contract with the New York Rangers.
The expectation is for him to make the jump to pro hockey and play for the Hartford Wolf Pack next season. He should automatically be given a starring role as a top line player getting minutes in all situations in the AHL.
Clarification Note: Brennan Othmann can join the Pack next season only after the OHL season ends. He is fully AHL eligible in 2023-24.
NHL RUMORS
The Calgary Flames are on record that they will ‘move heaven and earth’ to make sure Johnny Gaudreau stays put. Plus will the New York Rangers re-sign Andrew Copp? Read more.
More About:Blueshirts GameDay NYR Features