Rangers Prospects – Forever Blueshirts https://www.foreverblueshirts.com New York Rangers news, rumors, analysis, stats, and more Thu, 18 Dec 2025 01:56:52 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=32,height=32,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/cropped-FBS-favicon.png Rangers Prospects – Forever Blueshirts https://www.foreverblueshirts.com 32 32 What’s next for Rangers after top 2 prospects called up from minors https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/recall-gabe-perreault-brennan-othmann-boost-scoring Wed, 17 Dec 2025 19:15:16 +0000 https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/?p=474106 The day after suffering their seventh shutout loss of the season, the New York Rangers recalled Gabe Perreault and Brennan Othmann from Hartford of the American Hockey League in hopes that their top two forward prospects can pump some life into an anemic offense.

Each is a past first-round pick by the Rangers and is known for his offensive skill set. Perreault, selected in the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft, leads Hartford with 10 goals and 17 points in 20 games. The 20-year-old also picked up his first NHL point, an assist, during a three-game call-up in mid-November.

Othmann, a 2021 first-round pick, has 10 points (four goals, six assists) in 19 games with Hartford this season; he was pointless in one game with the Rangers back on Oct. 26. The 22-year-old scored 21 goals with Hartford as a rookie pro in 2023-24 but has yet to score a goal in 26 NHL games over parts of three seasons.

However, Othmann’s playing his best hockey of the season right now. He scored three goals in his past four AHL games and has five points (four goals, one assist) in his past seven contests with Hartford. This comes after a slow start led to a slew of Othmann trade rumors.

Perreault was AHL Player of the Week for the week ending Nov. 2 and largely played well in his first pro season, after two outstanding seasons at Boston College. However, his production dried up recently — Perreault was pointless and minus-7 in his past four games with Hartford.

To make room on the active roster, the Rangers assigned forwards Brett Berard and Jaroslav Chmelar to Hartford. Berard was without a point in 11 games, mainly playing on the third line, where he averaged 10:59 TOI. Chmelar averaged 7:51 TOI in six games on the fourth line. He didn’t record a point and totaled seven penalty minutes.

What’s next for Rangers after calling up Gabe Perreault, Brennan Othmann

Photo courtesy Hartford Wolf Pack

Why Rangers called up two rookies at same time

The Rangers are 30th out of 32 NHL teams in scoring, averaging 2.51 goals per game. They’ve been shut out in 20 percent of their games (seven times in 35 games) and held to one goal or fewer 13 times, after a 3-0 loss to the last-overall Vancouver Canucks at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday.

New York’s power play is a mess, especially without injured defenseman Adam Fox available to run point the past seven games. The Rangers are 20th in the NHL on the power play, converting at 18.3 percent.

The Rangers need a pretty drastic change to shake them out of their doldrums. Thus, even though coach Mike Sullivan has reservations about each youngster plays defensively, their offensive upside is too appealing right now.

Perhaps NHL Network’s E.J. Hradek explained it best when he discussed Perreault on the RINK RAP podcast last week.

“It’s interesting to see what’s going on with Gabe Perreault, because he’s playing real well in the American [Hockey] League,” Hradek told Forever Blueshirts. “I am someone who believes in letting guys ripen at the lesser levels, and so that’s probably a good thing that he’s getting that experience there. But that said, they need help at the NHL level, which is a problem. Maybe that injection of, as they say, that youthful enthusiasm and youthful talent to your mix up front would give them a little bit of a jump.”

Where Gabe Perreault, Brennan Othman fit in Rangers lineup

NHL: Preseason-Boston Bruins at New York Rangers
Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

To paraphrase Rangers defenseman Braden Schneider, it’s time for Perreault and Othmann to put their big boy pants on. Or maybe a better way to phrase it is that Sullivan must let the rookies put their big boy pants on.

His concern about their readiness on the defensive side of the puck is valid. But unless one or both is so in over his head defensively, the coach must let the kids play and do what they do best. That starts with putting each in a position to do so, improving the chance for success.

Start with Perreault. Put him in the top-six forward group. He’s uber creative, thinks the offensive game at a high level and has the skills to make plays with the best players on the roster. Playing him with J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck is appealing, as is having him riding shotgun with Mika Zibanejad in some iteration. Or maybe with Trocheck and Alexis Lafreniere? Or have him queue up Artemi Panarin?

Also, get the kid some power-play time. The idea of Perreault out there with more open ice is exciting.

As for Othmann, his confidence should be at its highest level this season right now. So, tap into that. No fourth-line duty please. A third line of Othmann, Noah Laba, and Will Cuylle? That’s intriguing, since each plays a North-South style and is physical. A top-six role for Othmann? There’s absolutely a case for that — just not at the expense of Perreault getting that shot.

Would the Rangers move Lafreniere into a third-line role to get Othmann and Perreault into the top six? Unlikely. Lafreniere continues to drive play and his analytics are always good, but he’s got one goal in nine games and seven all season. So, there’s an argument to be made here. But it just feels like Sullivan’s not going to do anything that drastic with Lafreniere or his top-six group.

Odd men out

The obvious odd men out are Berard and Chmelar. Berard did bring energy to the lineup, playing 11 straight games after his recall before he was a he was a healthy scratch against the Canucks. But unlike last season, when he scored six goals and totaled 10 points in 35 games on Broadway, Berard barely sniffed the score sheet this time around. With Perreault and Othmann in New York, Berard should get quality top-line minutes on the wing in Hartford, which certainly can’t hurt.

Chmelar didn’t look out of place in a limited fourth-line role with the Rangers. But there’s no room for the rugged 22-year-old with Matt Rempe back in the lineup and Taylor Raddysh available to play on the fourth line.

Conor Sheary works hard and plays a committed 200-foot game. But he simply can’t score. He’s got one goal in 32 games and logged far too many minutes in the top six. The 33-year-old two-time Stanley Cup winner is a bottom-six forward at this stage of his career — and likely ends up a healthy scratch Thursday, when the Rangers visit the St. Louis Blues.

Jonny Brodzinski remains an extra forward, trusted to play up and down the lineup as needed. Assuming no one gets hurt, and Perreault and Othmann play well enough to remain in the lineup, Brodzinski remains in the press box for the foreseeable future.

]]> Wed, 17 Dec 2025 20:53:54 +0000 New York Rangers News Towering Rangers prospect Nathan Aspinall having breakout OHL season https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/rangers-prospect-nathan-aspinall-breakout-season Wed, 17 Dec 2025 16:20:37 +0000 https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/?p=473563 Nathan Aspinall is used to standing above most everyone else. That comes with being 6-foot-7, even before the New York Rangers prospect puts his skates on.

But right now, the 19-year-old forward also stands above everyone else in the Ontario Hockey League, leading the OHL in scoring with 48 points (22 goals, 26 assists) in 30 games for the Flint Firebirds.

This is most definitely a breakout campaign for Aspinall, whom the Rangers selected in the fifth round (No. 159 overall) of the 2024 NHL. Draft. He’s had at least one point in all but five games this season, and his recent 13-game point streak ended Saturday in a 3-2 loss to Sarnia.

Aspinall already surpassed his previous OHL best of 47 points, set in 62 games last season. His 22 goals are second in the OHL and four more than his previous career high of 18 set in 2023-24 with Flint.

Flint (22-7-2-2) sits atop the Western Conference in the OHL with 48 points, due in large part to Aspinall’s major uptick in production and leadership as team captain. He had a career-high five points and recorded his first OHL hat trick in a 9-1 rout of Guelph on Dec. 10.

In his fourth season of major junior hockey, the towering forward acted on the advice to shoot more, and averages 4.25 shots on goal per game this season. Improvements to the power and accuracy of his shot, especially shooting the puck in stride, helped Aspinall immensely in his breakout season. His fast start was recognized when he won OHL Player of the Month honors for November.

After playing five games with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League on an amateur tryout at the end of last season, Aspinall took part in training camp with the Rangers this fall. Aspinall opened some eyes when he fought rugged forward Nathan Legare in the preseason opener against the New Jersey Devils.

The Rangers signed Aspinall to a three-year, entry-level contract in October. He’s expected to rejoin Hartford once his season with Flint is over.

Rangers prospect Artem Gonchar also playing well in OHL

Artem Gonchar is another Rangers prospect playing well in the OHL this season. The 19-year-old defenseman from Russia scored his eighth goal Saturday, helping Sudbury to a wild 7-6 shootout victory over Owen Sound.

He has 15 points in his past 12 games, and is third on Sudbury with 19 points in 29 games.

The Rangers selected the left-shot d-man in the third round (No. 89 overall) of the 2025 draft. He is the nephew of Sergei Gonchar, who played 1,301 games in the NHL.

“Artem is a player that we have been high on from this past season.”, Sudbury general manager Rob Papineau said prior to the season. “He is a very intelligent smooth skating defenseman who was just selected in the third round in the NHL. He has great vision and offensive instincts and is a skilled playmaker.”

Gonchar played most of his 2024-25 season in the MHL with Magnitogorsk Stalnye Lisy, recording 25 points (seven goals, 18 assists) in 50 games

]]> Wed, 17 Dec 2025 20:56:52 +0000 New York Rangers News site:29900:date:2025:vid:2446003 Hartford Wolf Pack Weekly: Brennan Othmann Finds Scoring Touch https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/hartford-wolf-pack-brennan-othmann-finds-scoring-touch Tue, 16 Dec 2025 21:08:32 +0000 https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/?p=473942 The Hartford Wolf Pack are trending in the wrong direction, after they lost three of their past four games.

Last week featured mixed results. The New York Rangers AHL affiilliate was shut out for the second time this season, when they lost 3-0 to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Wednesday. Hartford responded with a 2-1 win over Utica on Friday. But unable to carry that momentum forward, the Wolf Pack dropped a 7-2 decision to Syracuse on Saturday, allowing a season high in goals against (the previous high was six against Bridgeport on Dec. 6).

The Wolf Pack are tied for sixth (9-12-4-0, 22 points) with Bridgeport in the Atlantic Division. They play two games this week before heading into AHL holiday break.

Hartford Wolf Pack News-n-Notes

Brennan Othmann Finds Scoring Touch

Third-year pro Brennan Othmann is heating up for the Wolf Pack. After slow start and mired in a scoring drought prior to his first goal this season on Nov. 26, Othmann has four goals in his past seven games, including on consecutive nights last weekend.

The 22-year-old forward scored Hartford’s first short-handed goal of the season Friday, after netting his first power-play goal on Dec. 6.

It’s been a rough season for the 2021 first-round pick. Othmann struggled during the preseason when there was an NHL job to be won in New York. And his play in the AHL hasn’t cut it.

Not surprisingly, there are many Othamnn trade rumors out there. But he remains a key cog for the Wolf Pack. His 10 points (four goals, six assists) in 19 games are tied for seventh on the team with Bryce McConnell-Barker. Hartford needs steady production from Othmann, who recorded 20 points (12 goals, eight assists) in 27 games for them last season 2024-25, and was second on the Wolf Pack with 21 goals in 2023-24.

Adam Sýkora Providing Strong Two-Way Play

Adam Sýkora continues to provide a reliable game at both ends of the ice for Hartford. The second-round pick (No. 63 overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft by the Rangers has five goals through 25 games, and is on pace to surpass his professional career high of nine set last season. More importantly, he continues to be a trusted forward defensively.

The 21-year-old is a force on the penalty kill. He scored a short-handed goal this past weekend, and is smart, disruptive player defensively. At even strength, Sýkora is reliable and adept at forcing turnovers, helping Hartford in its transition game.

He’s also more physical this season, despite being somewhat undersized (5-foot-10, 179 pounds). Sykora does not back down from opponents and has shows plenty of feistiness in his game.

His potential fit in the NHL clearly is in a bottom-six role, though he needs to add some size before the Rangers give serious thought to recalling him.

Roster Updates

  • Center Justin Dowling is day to day with an upper-body injury. He left in the first period of the game Friday and did not return.
  • Hartford called up forward Kyle Jackson from Bloomington of the ECHL on Monday. Jackson appeared in 23 games with the Bison, recording a team-high 30 points (11 goals, 19 assists), second most in the league.

Upcoming Games

All games can be viewed on AHLTV and heard on Mixlr.

Friday, December 19 vs Syracuse Crunch (Lightning) at 7:00pm, PeoplesBank Arena

  • This is the second and final meeting in the season series. Hartford lost the first game, 7-2 on Dec. 13.
  • Syracuse is 15-9-1-0 (31 points), tied for second in the North Division (with Rochester) and tied for fourth in the Eastern Conference (with Rochester).
  • Jakob Pelletier leads the Crunch with 31 points (15 goals, 16 assists) and is tied for the AHL scoring lead. Next on the Crunch is Nick Abruzzese with 24 points (six goals, 18 assists), who is tied for 13th in the league’s scoring race.

Saturday, December 20 vs Lehigh Valley Phantoms (Flyers) at 7:05pm, PPL Center

  • This is the fourth of six meetings in the season series. Hartford is 0-1-2-0 against Lehigh Valley.
  • Lehigh Valley is 13-9-1-2 (29 points), third in the Atlantic Division and sixth in the Eastern Conference.
  • Alex Bump leads the Phantoms with 19 points (six goals, 13 assists). Next is Anthony Richard with 18 points (eight goals, 10 assists).
]]> Tue, 16 Dec 2025 16:08:37 +0000 New York Rangers News site:29900:date:2025:vid:2446003 Rangers NCAA prospects report: Malcolm Spence’s massive goal for Michigan https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/ncaa-prospects-malcolm-spence-michigan Tue, 09 Dec 2025 15:06:32 +0000 https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/?p=472397 This past weekend featured a pair of New York Rangers prospects facing off in a top-three matchup, when Malcolm Spence scored his seventh goal of the season to lead No. 1-ranked Michigan past Sean Barnhill and Michigan State 3-0 on Friday night.

The freshman forward buried a beautiful feed for an even-strength goal 5:17 into the first period Friday, to give Michigan an early 1-0 lead over its arch-rival. The goal turned out to be the game-winner in the shutout victory, his first in the NCAA.

Michigan shut out Michigan State on the road for the first time since Jan. 7, 2000. But the Spartans earned a series split with a 3-1 victory at Yost Ice Arena on Saturday.

Heading into the holiday break, Spence is fifth on the Wolverines in goal scoring, and his 12 points in 20 games are 10th-best on the team. Michigan remains at the top of the polls with a 16-4-0 overall record. The Wolverines are off until the new year, with an exhibition against the U.S. NTDP U-18 Team scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 3, before NCAA play continues against Notre Dame on Friday, Jan. 9.

Barnhill was minus-1 in the loss for Michigan State on Friday with one shot on goal. The freshman defenseman was plus-1 in the rematch Saturday, and been solid defensively though 16 games this season. He also contributed three assists heading into the holiday break.

Michigan State is 12-4-0 and remains third in both the USCHO.com and USA Hockey Polls. The Spartans return from the break to take on Ferris State in the Great Lakes Invitational on Sunday, Dec. 28.

Rangers prospect Brody Lamb remains hot, clutch for Minnesota

Syndication: Westchester County Journal News
Frank Becerra Jr. / The Journal News / USA TODAY NETWORKCredit: Frank Becerra Jr. / The Journal News / USA TODAY NETWORK

Senior captain Brody Lamb had a three-point performance on Thursday evening, when he led the Minnesota Golden Gophers to a 6-3 victory over Ohio State. Lamb extended his scoring streak to three games, recording a goal and two assists for his sixth multi-point game of the season. His first point came on the power play, when Lamb was credited with a secondary assist on Minnesota’s first goal to tie the game at 1-1 at 3:50 of the second period. Minnesota took a 2-1 lead at 9:03 of the period, when Lamb earned the primary assist.

After Ohio State rallied to tie the game 3-3, Lamb buried his own rebound after attacking off the rush for his ninth goal of the season at 6:40 of the third period to put his team in front for good.

Lamb also displayed his defensive skills by blocking four shots, and finished plus-3. Lamb’s scoring streak came to an end, when Minnesota lost 6-5 in overtime Friday night. He was limited to just one shot on goal with one blocked shot. Heading into the holiday break, Lamb is tied for the team lead in points with 19 (nine goals, 10 assists) through 19 games. Minnesota has an 8-10-1 overall record and returns to action Friday, Jan. 2 against Bemidji State.

Rangers 2024 first-round pick EJ Emery had one shot on goal Friday for North Dakota, when the Fighting Hawks held on to defeat St. Cloud State 4-3 in NCHC competition. The sophomore defender had two blocked shots and a minor penalty for high-sticking.

North Dakota improved to 12-4-0 after a 4-2 win over St. Cloud on Saturday. Emery had one blocked shot with a plus-1 rating in the win. Through 15 games played, Emery has two goals and two assists for four points. North Dakota climbed one spot to fourth in the USCHO poll, and remained 5th in the USA Hockey poll. The Fighting Hawks play Omaha this Friday.

Sophomore Ty Henricks had one assist for Western Michigan, when the Broncos split a pair of games against Minnesota-Duluth in NCHC play. Henricks earned the primary assist on Western Michigan’s first goal Saturday, when they rallied for a 3-2 win. The assist was his career best sixth of the season, and Henricks matched his point total from his freshman campaign with 13. Henricks recorded three of those points came back in October during a 5-2 win against Spence and Michigan.

Western Michigan remained seventh in the USCHO poll and dropped one spot to eighth in the USA Hockey poll. The Broncos are 10-6-0 and return from the holiday break on Sunday, Dec. 28 against Boston College in the Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off.

Junior defenseman Drew Fortescue had one shot on goal Friday night, when Boston College defeated UMass-Lowell 3-1 in Hockey East action. Fortescue received a double-minor penalty in the third period for roughing. The Eagles swept the River Hawks by the same 3-1 mark Saturday. Fortescue earned a secondary assist on BC’s third goal to bring his stats up to three goals and five assists for eight points through 16 games played this season.

Boston College gained two spots in the USCHO poll, climbing to 13th, and is ranked 12th in the USA Hockey poll. The Eagles are 10-5-1, and next face Western Michigan on Sunday, Dec. 28.

Swedish defenseman Rasmus Larsson was scratched from the lineup for Robert Morris University, when the Colonials split a weekend series against Air Force, losing 4-1 on Friday before a 6-3 victory Saturday. The sophomore transfer has appeared in only five of 16 games this season, last skating against Lindenwood on Nov. 22. Larsson is pointless since transferring from Northern Michigan, where he scored three goals and skated in 29 games for the Wildcats last season. His next opportunity to return to the Robert Morris lineup comes Tuesday, Dec. 30 when the Colonials visit Sacred Heart University.

]]> Tue, 09 Dec 2025 12:18:54 +0000 New York Rangers News Hartford Wolf Pack Weekly: Gabe Perreault continues to shine as AHL rookie https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/hartford-wolf-pack-gabe-perreault-shines-ahl-rookie Mon, 08 Dec 2025 23:32:44 +0000 https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/?p=473606 The Hartford Wolf Pack’s season high three game winning streak ended this past weekend, when they split a pair of games. The New York Rangers AHL affiliate enters this week, winners in five of their past eight games.

Last weekend featured a 5-2 win against Springfield on Friday. The Wolf Pack’s first line led the charge with three point performances from Gabe Perreault (two goals, one assist) and Justin Dowling (three assists). Jaroslav Chmelař recorded two assists.

The Wolf Pack followed up with a 6-2 loss to Bridgeport on Saturday. Brennan Othmann scored his second goal in four games, and Dowling also scored to extend his point-streak to three games (one goal, five assists).

The sixth-place Wolf Pack (8-10-4-0, 20 points) look to build on their recent strong play with three games this week.

Hartford Wolf Pack News-n-Notes

Welcome back

The Hartford defense corps is about to get a boost with the return of two injured veterans. Brandon Scanlin, who sustained an injury during training camp and hasn’t played yet this season, cleared waivers on Sunday and returned to practice with the Wolf Pack. Scanlin played 206 games with the Wolf Pack, recording 46 points (20 goals, 26 assists), the previous four seasons.

Blake Hillman, who sustained an upper-body injury Nov. 15, is now officially day to day and close to a lineup return. He was initially week to week. Hillman was playing his best hockey before the injury, and had five points (two goals, three assists) in 12 games.

Gabe Perreault continues to shine in rookie AHL season

Though the Rangers are happy to let Perreault marinade in the minors as he matures physically and as a player, the 20-year-old forward may not be long for Hartford. Perreault has 17 points (10 goals, seven assists) in 17 games, and recently recorded six points (four goals, two assists) in a three-game point streak that included consecutive multi-goal outings.

New York’s first-round pick (No. 23 overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft leads the Wolf Pack in goals, points, point-per-game (1.00), and plus-minus (+10). Perreault is tied for fourth among AHL rookies in goals, and tied for eighth in points.

Though he only has one assist in three games with the Rangers this season, Perreault continues to knock on their door, showing he’s ready for another crack at it in the NHL

Dylan Garand sharp in Hartford return

Dylan Garand returned to Hartford after serving as Igor Shesterkin’s backup for three games in New York. The 23-year-old goalie still hasn’t made his NHL debut, and didn’t play at all over a 12-day span until his start Friday back in the AHL.

Garand looked sharp, though, stopping 34 of 36 shots in the win against Springfield. He was instrumental in a game where the Thunderbirds pushed hard for a comeback, and made a string of impressive saves.

Initially given the night off on Saturday against Bridgeport, Garand replaced Callum Tung for the second and third periods. Tung, who faced 12 shots, conceded three goals in the first period before he was pulled. Coach Grant Potulny attempted to spark Hartford with the switch, and Garand finished with 21 saves on 23 shots in relief.

Garand is 4-6-2 with a 2.88 goals-against average and .903 save percentage for Hartford this season after his strong play last weekend.

Justin Dowling playing big role for Wolf Pack

Justin Dowling — Photo courtesy Hartford Wolf Pack

Signed by the Rangers to a two-year contract on July 7, Dowling has 16 points (five goals, 11 assists) in 21 games with Hartford, and been a mentor for Perreault, his young linemate. The 35-year-old forward leads the Wolf Pack in assists, is second in points, and tied for fourth in goals.

Potulny leans on the veteran, who played last season with the New Jersey Devils, deploying him as the Wolf Pack’s No. 1 center. As a result, Dowling created strong chemistry with Perreault, and other young forwards given opportunities on the line, like Othmann and Chmelař. Dowling’s experience (152 NHL, 594 AHL, and 60 ECHL games) is a major asset for the Wolf Pack.

Dowling’s last full season in the AHL was 2023-24. He is on pace to exceed his totals from that season (40 points).

Upcoming Games

All games can be viewed on AHLTV and heard on Mixlr.

Wednesday, December  vs Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (Pittsburgh) at 7:00pm, PeoplesBank Arena

  • This is the fourth of six meetings in the season series. Hartford is 1-2-0-0 against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
  • The Penguins are 17-5-1-0 (35 points), first in the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference. They are third overall in the AHL.
  • Sam Poulin leads the Penguins with 20 points (nine goals, 11 assists). Next is Danton Heinen with 18 points (six goals, 12 assists).

Friday, December 12 vs Utica Comets (Devils) at 7:00pm, Adirondack Bank Center

  • This is the first of two meetings in the season series. Hartford lost the series in 2024-25 (0-1-0-1).
  • Utica is 4-12-3-1 (12 points), seventh (last) in the North Division and 15th (last) in the Eastern Conference.
  • Xavier Parent leads the Comets with 12 points (six goals, six assists). Mike Hardman has 10 points (five goals, five assists).

Saturday, December 13 vs Syracuse Crunch (Lightning) at 7:00pm, Upstate Medical Arena at The Onecenter War Memorial

This is the first of two meetings in the season series. Hartford split the series in 2024-25 (1-0-1-0). The second meeting is Dec. 19.

  • Syracuse is 13-8-1-0 (27 points), third in the North Division and tied for fifth in the Eastern Conference.
  • Jakob Pelletier leads the Crunch with 26 points (11 goals, 15 assists) and is tied for second in the League. Next is Nick Abruzzese with 20 points (five goals, 15 assists).
]]> Tue, 09 Dec 2025 12:22:41 +0000 New York Rangers News site:29900:date:2025:vid:2439704 Hartford Wolf Pack Weekly: Brendan Brisson heats up on 4-game point streak https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/hartford-wolf-pack-brendan-brisson-heats-up Wed, 03 Dec 2025 16:23:28 +0000 https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/?p=473277 The Hartford Wolf Pack are finding ways to win lately. After snapping a seven-game losing streak (0-3-4-0) on Nov. 18 with a3-2 overtime victory over Springfield, the New York Rangers AHL affiliate won four of their past six games.

Last week started out badly, with a 6-3 loss to Springfield on Wednesday. Brennan Othmann played his best game of the season, scoring his first goal since Feb. 16 and adding an assist. He also led the Wolf Pack with six shots on goal. Dylan Roobroeck also contributed two points (one goal, one assist).

The Wolf Pack followed up with a pair of victories against Cleveland over the weekend, though. The 6-4 win Friday included two-goal performances from Trey Fix-Wolansky and Bryce McConnell-Barker. Then on Saturday, Gabe Perreault recorded the first two-goal game of his professional career to lead a 3-2 comeback win in the third period.

The sixth-place Wolf Pack (7-9-4-0, 18 points) can move to .500 with two wins this weekend.

Juuso Pärssinen, who cleared waivers and was assigned to Hartford by the Rangers last week, sustained an upper-body injury on Friday in the second period. He is week to week with the injury.

Hartford signed Daniel Walcott to a Professional Tryout (PTO) on Nov. 27. Walcott, a gritty 31-year old forward, was the Rangers’ fifth-round pick (No. 140 overall) in the 2014 NHL Draft. He returns after spending nine seasons with Syracuse in the AHL (56 goals, 91 assists for 147 points in 495 games). He attended AHL training camp with Charlotte, but was released prior to opening night.

The Wolf Pack’s roster shuffle continued when goalie Spencer Martin was called up to the Rangers on Sunday, and Dylan Garand was assigned to Hartford. Other transactions included Scott Morrow, and Brennan Othmann recalled by the Rangers, and Connor Mackey returned to the Wolf Pack. Goalie Hugo Ollas was also sent to ECHL Bloomington.

Hartford Wolf Pack News-n-Notes

Photo courtesy Hartford Wolf Pack

Brendan Brisson heats up

Brendan Brisson, a first-round pick (No. 29 overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft by the Vegas Golden Knights, is on a four-game point streak (three goals, one assist). This burst comes after a very slow start with Hartford this season, when he recorded three points (two goals, one assist) in 16 games.

Despite the poor start, the 24-year-old center is tied for fourth on Hartford with five goals, and is fifth with 37 shots on goal. Furthermore, his two power-play goals are third most on the Wolf Pack (one behind Roobroeck and Fix-Wolansky).

Brisson has seven points (five goals, two assists) in 20 games. He is two goals away from tying last season’s total (seven), when he split the campaign with Hartford and Henderson. He also was pointless in nine games with the Golden Knights.

Bryce McConnell-Barker developing nicely

Second-year forward Bryce McConnell-Barker is on a roll. McConnell-Barker, a third round pick (No. 97 overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft by the Rangers, has 10 points (five goals, five assists) in 20 games. He is tied for fourth on the team (with Roobroeck) in scoring, and is tied for fourth in goals (with Brisson). His 38 shots is the fourth most on the Wolf Pack. McConnell-Barker also recorded his first professional two-goal game on Nov. 28 against Cleveland.

Defensively, McConnell-Barker plays a disciplined and impactful game. He recorded three penalties this season and is plus-2. He helps the Wolf Pack transition quickly from defense to offense, showing how his skating is a tremendous asset.

McConnell-Barker is on pace to exceed his totals from 2024-25 (15 points). In fact, he is two goals and three assists away from replicating last season. 

Callum Tung impresses during AHL call up

Since he was recalled by Hartford from ECHL Bloomington on Nov. 16, Callum Tung impressed and showed he’s capable of playing in the AHL. The 22-year-old goaltender, who signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Rangers on April 1, won three of his four starts with Hartford the past two weeks. He faced 109 shots and stopped 95 of them. While his sample size is limited (3.44 GAA, .872 save percentage), Tung showed the ability to compete in the AHL. In addition, he joined Hartford at the end of 2024-25 and impressed in two starts (1-1-0, 2.28 GAA, .893 save percentage).

Garand is the clear-cut No. 1 goalie in Hartford, and Martin will back him up once Jonathan Quick returns from a lower-body injury for the Rangers. That leaves Tung likely heading back to the ECHL, where he is 4-1-2 with a 2.47 GAA and .921 save percentage for the Bison.

Upcoming Games

All games can be viewed on AHLTV and heard on Mixlr.

Friday, December 5 vs Springfield Thunderbirds (St. Louis) at 7:00pm, PeoplesBank Arena

  • This is the fifth of 10 meetings in the season series. Hartford is 3-1-0-0 against Springfield.
  • Springfield is 5-10-2-2 (14 points), eighth (last) in the Atlantic Division and 14th in the Eastern Conference. However, the Thunderbirds are on a five game point streak (3-0-1-1).
  • Matt Luff (seven goals, seven assists) leads the Thunderbirds with 14 points. Next is Juraj Pekarcik with 12 points (five goals, seven assists).

Saturday, December 6 vs Bridgeport Islanders (New York) at 7:00pm, Total Mortgage Arena

  • This is the second of 12 meetings in the season series. Hartford was shut out in the first meeting, 3-0 on Oct. 24.
  • Bridgeport is 7–10-1-1 (16 points), seventh in the Atlantic Division and tied for 12th in the Eastern Conference. The Islanders are 4-5-0-1 in their past 10 games.
  • Matthew Highmore (four goals, 10 assists) and Matthew Maggio (three goals, 11 assists) co-lead the Islanders with 14 points apiece.
]]> Wed, 03 Dec 2025 11:23:32 +0000 New York Rangers News Gabe Perreault heroics lift Wolf Pack to comeback victory https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/gabe-perreault-two-goal-game-hartford-victory Sun, 30 Nov 2025 17:10:34 +0000 https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/?p=473187 Gabe Perreault recorded the first two-goal game of his professional career, helping the Hartford Wolf Pack rally for a 3-2 victory over the Cleveland Monsters on Saturday night. The New York Rangers top prospect started a comeback from 2-0 down in the third period and capped it by scoring the game-winning goal with 61 seconds remaining in regulation.

Perreault’s clutch performance was a bright spot on a bleak day for the Rangers organization. Back in New York, the Rangers put forth a gruesome effort in a 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. In addition, Adam Fox sustained an scary upper-body injury, and there’s concern over his status moving forward.

So, Perreault’s heroics with New York’s AHL affiliate stood out even more. The 20-year-old forward displayed a lightning-quick release, when he found open space and scored a 4-on-4 goal at 11:56 of the third period to cut the Hartford deficit to 2-1.

The rejuvenated Wolf Pack scored on their next shift, when Trey Fix-Wolansky scored his ninth goal just nine seconds after Perreault got them on the board. Fix-Wolansky buried a rebound after Jaroslav Chmelar’s wraparound try was denied.

Cleveland took a penalty at 18:40 of the third period, and Perreault made sure to make them pay for the high-sticking transgression. It took 19 seconds before Perreault snapped a power-play shot from between the circles into the back of the net — another quick release — at 18:59.

That was Perreault’s first power-play goal of the season, and eighth overall. He’s tied for fifth among AHL rookies in goal scoring. His shooting percentage is an impressive 32 percent (eight goals on 25 shots), though the Wolf Pack and Rangers would love to see him shoot more.

Gabe Perreault continues impressive rookie AHL season with Hartford

Gabe Perreault — Photo courtesy Hartford Wolf Pack

Perreault leads Hartford in scoring with 14 points in 15 games, and his plus/minus is a team-best plus-10. Earlier in the season, Perreault had a four-game point streak and won AHL Player of the Week honors.

The 2023 first-round draft pick picked up his first NHL point in a three-game recall with the Rangers in early November, assisting on an Alexis Lafreniere power-play goal in a 6-2 win against the Nashville Predators on Nov. 10. However, Rangers coach Mike Sullivan didn’t fully trust Perreault defensively, and so the youngster’s ice time dropped before New York sent him back to the minors.

After he returned to Hartford, Perreault was pointless in two games. But since then he’s got four points (three goals, one assists) in four games and is back to driving the Wolf Pack offense.

And Hartford’s responded to his return, winning four of six games, including sweeping the two-game set this weekend in Cleveland.

]]> Sun, 30 Nov 2025 12:16:22 +0000 New York Rangers News Why no guarantee Rangers rookie plays despite Jonathan Quick injury https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/dylan-garand-nhl-opportunity-rangers Wed, 26 Nov 2025 14:50:27 +0000 https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/?p=472954 With Jonathan Quick sidelined by a lower-body injury, Dylan Garand is now up with the New York Rangers as their No. 2 goalie. But that doesn’t mean the rookie is guaranteed to make his first NHL start any time soon.

Rangers coach Mike Sullivan made that pretty clear, even if he simply sounded evasive at first when discussing the subject after practice on Tuesday.

“I’m not sure yet. We’re going to take each game as it comes. We’ll probably make decisions on a game-by-game basis,” Sullivan explained before the Rangers headed to Raleigh to play the Carolina Hurricanes on Thanksgiving Eve.

It’s what he said next that likely gave a more clear vision of his plan moving forward with how to deploy Igor Shesterkin and Garand with Quick on IR.

“What I will tell you is I think because we’ve managed ‘Shesty’s’ workload to this point fairly well, if anyone’s in a position to take on more of a workload, I think Shesty’s [in a position] to do that. That’s a decision we’ll make in time.”

Shesterkin’s started 18 of New York’s 24 games this season, and is, of course, the clear-cut No. 1 goalie. Yet, the Rangers are able to manage his playing time to keep him fresh because Quick is as good a No. 2 as you’ll find in the League.

As such, Shesterkin started four games in a row just once this season. Three other times, the soon to be 30-year-old started three straight. But certainly Shesterkin is capable of handling a heavier workload. Just last season, he started a career-high 61 games.

The Rangers schedule is a busy one this week. Shesterkin backstopped their 3-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Monday at Madison Square Garden, and will get the start against the Hurricanes on Wednesday. New York then plays consecutive matinees — Friday in Boston against the Bruins, followed by Saturday at home against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Typically, Quick, who has a sterling 1.69 goals-against average and .944 save percentage in six games this season, gets one of those starts in the back-to-back set. But will Garand make his NHL debut in one of those games? If Sullivan already knows the answer, he’s simply not saying anything publicly.

“I’m ready for whatever the team needs,” Garand told the New York Post. “It’s an awesome opportunity. That’s why you push, that’s why you work, and hopefully I get an opportunity to play.”

Dylan Garand still ‘waiting for my opportunity’ with Rangers

NHL: Seattle Kraken at New York Rangers
Danny Wild-Imagn Images

The Rangers recalled Garand from Hartford of the American Hockey League on Sunday, after Quick sustained his injury the night before late in the third period of a 3-2 road loss at the Utah Mammoth. A collision in his crease appeared to leave Quick favoring his right leg. It’s unknown how long he’s expected to be out, though the 39-year-old reportedly skated on his own Tuesday.

Garand is New York’s top goaltending prospect. But the 23-year-old had an up-and-down preseason and a slow start to his fourth pro season in Hartford. He’s 3-6-2 as the No. 1 goalie for the mediocre Wolf Pack, with a 2.96 GAA and .897 save percentage.

Last season, Garand was an AHL All-Star, won 20 games for the first time as a pro, and tied for ninth among all goalies with a .913 save percentage.

“I think I showed this year that I can be one of, if not the, best goalies in this league (the AHL) and NHL caliber,” Garand told HartfordWolfPack.com over the summer. “Obviously, I’m waiting for my opportunity up top. I know that if I keep putting in the work, that’ll come. Wherever I am, whether it is up there or here, I’m going to compete to win and keep working hard and getting better every day.”

Whenever Quick, a three-time Stanley Cup champion, decides to hang up his skates, the Rangers hope that Garand is ready to handle the role as Shesterkin’s backup. New York recently signed goalie Spencer Martin to a two-year contract as a veteran insurance policy. There’s also 22-year-old Callum Tung raising eyebrows with some strong play after he was promoted to Hartford from the ECHL.

But Garand is the goalie that’s being groomed by the Rangers to one day be Shesterkin’s backup. The next step is to get him into an NHL game at some point. Let’s see if that opportunity comes this week.

]]> Wed, 26 Nov 2025 14:02:37 +0000 New York Rangers News Hartford Wolf Pack Weekly: Brennan Othmann Struggles With Consistency https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/hartford-wolf-pack-brennan-othmann-struggles-consistency Tue, 25 Nov 2025 15:48:22 +0000 https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/?p=472841 The Hartford Wolf Pack just missed out on a chance to sweep a three-game week. But the New York Rangers AHL affiliate let a 2-0 third-period lead slip away Saturday in a 3-2 loss to Lehigh Valley.

That disappointing defeat followed on the heels of a 3-2 overtime win Tuesday against Springfield and a 5-2 victory over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Friday. Highlights of the weekend included Derrick Pouliot’s three-point (one goal, two assists) outing Friday, Callum Tung’s pair of wins in goal, and Gabe Perreault’s sixth goal of the season.

Amid their overall struggles, the Wolf Pack remain tied for sixth-place (5-8-4-0, 14 points) with the Bridgeport Islanders for the final playoff spot in the Atlantic Division.

Brett Berard and Dylan Garand were called up by the Rangers on Sunday, to plug holes with J.T. Miller and Jonathan Quick sidelined by injuries.

With Garand, his No. 1 goalie, now in New York and Talyn Boyko loaned to a team in Finland’s Liiga, Hartford coach Grant Potulny must lean on Callum Tung, who won two starts last week after he was called up from the ECHL, Hugo Ollas, and veteran Spencer Martin.

Hartford did get Scott Morrow back. The defenseman was re-assigned after playing three games with the Rangers. The timing is good since Blake Hillman is week to week with an upper-body injury, and Brandon Scanlin remains sidelined.

Hartford Wolf Pack News-n-Notes

Brennan Othmann — photo courtesy Hartford Wolf Pack

Ongoing Brennan Othmann struggles a concern

Third-year forward Brennan Othmann continues to struggle to find any consistency in his game. A first round pick (No. 16) in the 2021 NHL Draft by the Rangers, Othmann hasn’t scored a goal since Feb. 16 of last season, either in the NHL or AHL. This makes his future extremely uncertain with the Rangers, who drafted him because of his big-time scoring ability in junior.

This season in Hartford, Othmann’s played on various line combinations, most recently on the second line with Berard and Dylan Roobroeck. He’s also received plenty of power-play opportunity. But Othmann has just five assists in 12 games. Even more alarming, and perhaps a sign of him lacking confidence, is that Othmann’s recorded just 17 shots on goal.

Defensively, he is a minus-four and been on ice for nine goals against at even strength. He attempts to get in the dirty areas and play physically, but has not found success consistently. Another aspect of his game is lack of discipline. Through 12 games, he is up to 27 PIM (he was given a 10-minute misconduct at end of the game Saturday). He is eight penalty minutes away from tying last year’s total (35 in 27 games), and, perhaps, his frustration is showing up in this area.

This season is a “prove-it” year for Othmann. Time is ticking on the 23-year-old forward, who’s name continues to show up in Rangers trade rumors.

Trey Fix-Wolansky provides reliable production

Veteran Trey Fix-Wolansky is paying dividends for Hartford. A seventh-round pick (No. 204) in the 2018 NHL Draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets, the 26-year old forward has five points (two goals, three assists) in his past six games. He’s tied with Perreault for the Hartford lead with six goals, and is tied for second with 10 points.

Fix-Wolansky hit the score sheet in nine of 17 games, and is second on the team with 40 shots. He’s tied with Roobroeck with a team-high three power-play goals, on pace to challenge his career-high 11 PPG set in 2022-23 with Cleveland of the AHL. The 5-foot-7 forward also is on pace for his fourth straight 20-goal season in the AHL.

Fix-Wolansky had 60 points (26 goals, 34 assists) in back-to-back seasons with Cleveland prior to joining the Rangers this past offseason.

Derrick Pouliot steps up 

Derrick Pouliot — photo courtesy Hartford Wolf Pack

The 31-year old defenseman had a strong week for the Wolf Pack. Pouliot, who led Syracuse defensemen in assists (46) and points (53) last season, has four points (one goal, three assists) in his past two games with Hartford. He is is tied for fifth in Wolf Pack scoring with Roobroeck (eight points), and leads the defense corps in assists (seven) and points.

Pouliot is a key offensive cog for Hartford, especially as the power-play quarterback. Potulny said the former Pittsburgh Penguins first-rounder plays “important minutes” for Hartford, and is vitalk to their success at both ends of the rink.

Upcoming Games

All games can be viewed on AHLTV and heard on Mixlr.

Wednesday, November 26 vs Springfield Thunderbirds (St. Louis) at 7:00pm, PeoplesBank Arena

  • This is the fourth of 10 meetings in the season series. Hartford is 3-0-0-0 against Springfield.
  • Springfield is 3-10-2-1 (nine points), eighth (last) in the Atlantic Division and 14th in the Eastern Conference.
  • Nikita Alexandrov leads the Thunderbirds with 12 points (three goals, nine assists). Next is Matt Luff with 11 points (five goals, six assists).

Friday, November 28 vs Cleveland Monsters (Blue Jackets) at 7:00pm, Rocket Arena

  • This is the first of four meetings in the season series. The teams last met in 2023-24, playing four games with Hartford posting a 2-0-1-1 record.
  • Cleveland is 5-4-3-1 (14 points), sixth in the North Division and tied for 11th (with Hartford and Bridgeport) in the Eastern Conference.
  • Luca Pinelli leads the Monsters with 10 points (five goals, five assists), and Mikael Pyyhtiä has eight points (two goals, six assists).

Saturday, November 29 vs Cleveland Monsters (Blue Jackets) at 7:00pm, Rocket Arena

  • This is the second of four meetings in the season series. Hartford hosts Cleveland on March 11 and 13. 
]]> Tue, 25 Nov 2025 10:48:25 +0000 New York Rangers News Rangers goalie prospect having ‘blast,’ stars after call up to AHL Hartford https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/callum-tung-stars-ahl-call-up-hartford Sat, 22 Nov 2025 17:56:33 +0000 https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/?p=472721 Callum Tung is doing his best to show the New York Rangers that they have two legit goalie prospects playing in the minor leagues, taking advantage of a recent call-up to Hartford of the American Hockey League with two quality starts the past few days.

Tung started the season with Bloomington in the ECHL but was promoted to Hartford this week after an upper-body issue sidelined No. 1 netminder Dylan Garand, New York’s top goalie prospect, for one game. The former UConn star won each of his first two AHL starts, allowing two goals in each game and helping lift Hartford out of its early-season malaise. The Wolf Pack lost seven straight (0-3-4) before Tung’s arrival in Connecticut’s capital city.

“Having the experience last year, coming in at the end of the season with UConn, and just getting a couple of games (with Hartford), getting to know the guys, helped me ease into my transition much easier,” Tung explained after a 5-2 win over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Friday. “The first two games have been a blast, and I’m just happy to help the team win.”

Tung, who turns 22 on Sunday, was outstanding against WBS. He finished with 31 saves, but 21 of those came in the first period, when Hartford was outshot 22-6 and nearly run out of its own building. Instead, the score was tied 1-1 at the first intermission, and the Wolf Pack steadied themselves the rest of the way, scoring twice in each of the second and third periods.

“I wasn’t real pleased with our start. I thought Callum Tung did an incredible job allowing us to get to our game,” Hartford coach Grant Potulny stated.

On Tuesday, Tung made 21 saves to help Hartford rally from down 2-0 in the third period and win 3-2 in overtime.

“Tonight, and on Tuesday, he made the game easy on himself by any pucks that came to him, stayed with him,” Potulny explained. “There wasn’t pucks coming out. He controlled rebounds, fought to see pucks, and I thought he played a very good game.”

Rangers goalie prospect Callum Tung showing ‘ton of growth’ this season

Photo courtesy Hartford Wolf Pack

The British Columbia native signed with the Rangers as a free agent last spring after one season, albeit a very successful one, splitting the goaltending duties at UConn with Florida Panthers prospect Tyler Muszelik.

Tung was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team and helped the Huskies reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time in the school’s history. Coach Mike Cavanaugh chose him to start each of their two games in the regionals. Tung didn’t disappoint, making 21 saves in a 4-1 win over Quinnipiac and 38 saves in a heartbreaking 3-2 overtime loss to Penn State in the Elite Eight.

The 6-foot-3, 209-pound goalie then appeared in two games with Hartford on an ATO, posting a win and a loss with a 2.28 goals-against average. In the ECHL this season, Tung is 4-1-2 in seven starts, with a 2.47 GAA and .921 save percentage.

“In half a year from where he came from his first two games here last year, to what he’s done over the summer, to what he did in Bloomington, to what he’s shown here now in two games, he’s had a ton of growth as a player,” Potulny noted.

Garand appears healthy again and was the backup goalie Friday, so it’s unclear what the immediate future holds for Tung. Talyn Boyko was Garand’s backup earlier this season, but the Rangers loaned him to KalPa in Finland’s Liiga on Saturday. The Rangers signed veteran Spencer Martin recently, as well.

If Garand is good to go, the best plan likely is to have Tung play regularly in the ECHL, with Martin sharing the net with Garand in Hartford. Even so, Tung is on the Rangers’ radar after these two strong outings in the American Hockey League this past week.

]]> Sat, 22 Nov 2025 15:13:21 +0000 New York Rangers News