New York Rangers surprisingly cut top prospect ahead of season opener
The New York Rangers announced Friday that winger and top prospect Brennan Othmann was assigned to the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League. The 20-year-old was selected 16th overall in 2021.
Othmann, for the 2022-2023 season, appeared in 56 OHL games split between the Flint Firebirds (16 GP) and Peterborough Petes (40 GP). He scored 24 points (11 g, 13 a) with Flint and 43 points (18 g, 25 a) with Peterborough. He was exceptional in the playoffs with eight goals and 25 points in 23 games as he led Peterborough to a Championship this past season.
Going into the 2023-24 season, Rangers' director of player personnel and amateur scouting, John Lilley, was very complementary of his chances of making the team out of training camp.
"Well, he's an excellent player. He has offense. He's feisty. He plays a good two-way game. It is the next step."
Othmann played in 5 of 6 preseason games for the Rangers, registering two goals.
Giving Othmann top-line minutes with the Wolf Pack made more sense from a developmental standpoint than having him get minimal minutes a night on the fourth line, since the team's top-nine is pretty much set.
New York Rangers finished the preseason 1-5. They start the regular season Thursday, October 12, against the Buffalo Sabers, in Buffalo.
| POLL | ||
Are the Rangers making a big mistake in starting Othmann with the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack? | ||
| Yes, he's ready for the next step | 20 | 38.5 % |
| No, there's no reason to rush him | 32 | 61.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
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