Brennan Othmann is facing a pivotal moment in his career, but it’s not the end of the world for him. The New York Rangers recently made a significant roster decision by sending Othmann to the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack. Meanwhile, they kept fellow young forwards Noah Laba, Gabe Perreault (since reassigned to the AHL too), and Brett Berard in camp for further evaluation. Othmann’s demotion, like any other prospect, is not the end of the road for him as a potential Ranger.

“We believe they’ve all played extremely well and deserve to remain here. We want to give them the longest possible opportunity to showcase their skills,” said head coach Mike Sullivan. “Based solely on performance, the players on the ice have earned this chance.”

For Othmann, a 22-year-old winger and the 16th overall pick in the 2021 draft, this move serves more as a developmental step rather than a setback. He made the final roster cuts in the past two training camps and has already played 22 NHL games. This year, Sullivan emphasized the importance of improving Othmann’s overall game and building consistency.

“Otter and I have had several discussions even before training camp began, starting around the Lehigh Valley Rookies Tournament,” Sullivan noted. “We’ve talked a lot about playing responsibly, focusing on defensive details, maintaining structure, and being predictable, reliable, and dependable in his game. Essentially, it comes down to paying attention to detail in all zones and both sides of the puck, particularly defensively.”

Even with Othmann’s demotion, the Rangers’ forward group remains competitive. Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, J.T. Miller, Vincent Trocheck, Alexis Lafrenière, and Will Cuylle lead a strong roster, while Conor Sheary and Jonny Brodzinski also vie for spots. However, Sullivan highlighted that “NHL rosters are fluid. They can change in a day or next week. Decisions made today aren’t permanent.”

This uncertainty keeps the door open for Othmann. His strengths—skating, forechecking ability, and willingness to engage in physical play—remain valuable assets. Sullivan expressed optimism about his future based on these qualities. 

“I think he’s improved significantly since the first game,” Sullivan said. “He skates well and is effective on the forecheck. We’ve been encouraging him to embrace physical play instead of sticking to safe areas. If he does that, I believe he has the necessary skills to thrive in chaotic situations.”

Othmann’s demotion will allow him to receive top-line minutes and the opportunity to refine the details the Rangers seek. If he embraces this challenge, he could make a significant impact when the next opportunity in the NHL arises—something the Rangers have demonstrated can happen quickly.

There’s still a chance Othmann is packaged to address a larger need (left defense), but Othmann’s demotion will at least pave the way for him to force the Rangers to think twice, should they go that route.

Mentioned in this article:

More About: