As they look to add players to their first line in free agency, the New York Rangers are anticipated to be active on the open market. Nonetheless, there is some excellent talent in the Rangers’ prospect pool as well. Brennan Othmann is a homegrown talent who the Rangers may consider to remedy their first line concerns if they are unable to find that missing piece on the open market.
Brennan Othmann has been spectacular in Hartford
Othmann has primarily developed in the OHL with the Flint Firebird since being selected in the first round of the 2021 NHL Draft. He then spent the majority of the 2023 season in the AHL with the Hartford Wolf Pack, the Rangers’ affiliate.
Othmann had a fantastic season with the Wolf Pack, scoring 49 points (21 goals, 28 assists) in 67 games. He carried over his excellent play into the postseason, finishing with five points from ten games (one goal and four assists).
Othmann played in only a few NHL games for the Blueshirts this season. He started three games for head coach Peter Laviolette but did not score a point. Othmann might be prepared to make the move to the major leagues the following season, though, if he continues to improve in the AHL.
The Rangers could view Othmann as an affordable solution on the first-line
If the Rangers aim to acquire one of their sought-after star players for their top line, they’ll have to spend significantly. Most of their preferred targets are likely to command over $5 million annually in the current market. However, if GM Chris Drury prefers a more economical approach this summer, he might choose to promote a prospect to the first line.
Othmann appears to be the frontrunner for such an opportunity. He’s a skilled winger known for his speed and playmaking abilities. Othmann’s knack for creating scoring chances for his teammates could complement Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad well, potentially boosting their offensive output.
While there’s a chance Othmann could initially start in the bottom six of the NHL, the Rangers should have learned from past experiences with Alexis Lafreniere and Kaapo Kakko. Both began their careers in the bottom six, with Lafreniere only finding his stride after moving up to the top six. In contrast, Kakko, who has spent most of his time on the third line, has yet to fully break out and could be traded soon.
For Othmann’s development, it’s crucial that the Rangers give him an opportunity to prove himself in the top six once he’s ready to compete at the NHL level.