It’s no secret that New York Rangers forward Brennan Othmann’s 2024-25 season was a disappointment. He spent 22 games with the Blueshirts and managed just two assists while averaging 9:58 of ice time. The Rangers’ first-round pick (No. 16 overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft knows that he’s got to open some eyes at rookie camp, which began Wednesday at the MSG Training Center in Tarrytown, New York.
Confidence was a big issue for Othmann, who’s attending his fifth Rangers rookie camp. He said after the first day of workouts that his inability to put the puck in the net had an effect on him as the season went on.
“No, no I did. I feel like I belong. I still think I belong,” said Othmann, who spent most of the first workout as left wing on a line with center Noah Laba and right wing Gabriel Perreault. “Not scoring a goal is tough, and a lot of people know that. I wasn’t questioning my abilities or my game or anything like that … It just wasn’t going in. It’s not like I was playing bad hockey. Sometimes it happens, and that takes a toll on your mind.”
The offensive struggles came after he had 21 goals and 49 points for Hartford of the American Hockey League in 2023-24, his first pro season. He did have 12 goals and 20 points in 27 games for the Wolf Pack last season.
With a lot on the line this season, Othmann said he changed gyms and trainers during the summer, working out with players like Edmonton Oilers megastars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl as well as Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog at Gary Roberts Performance in Vaughan, Ontario. He said he was “starstruck” at times during 2024-25 and wanted to spend time around NHLers to shake that off.
Brennan Othmann hopes offseason changes lead to role with Rangers
“They helped me gain some of my confidence back that I didn’t really have here toward the end of the year,” he said, “so they did a great job.
“I felt like being around NHL guys for the whole summer – and, I mean, I was around NHL guys basically since February. Coming to camp now, I’m not really nervous or anything like that.”
Othmann sounded like a player who’s more confident in his NHL future.
“Everyone peaks at their own time,” he said. “Honestly, brutally honest, I’m not worried about my abilities or when I’m going to play in the NHL. I’m going to play in the NHL at some point, whether it’s this year or whether it’s whatever. I’m going to play in the NHL and I know I am — and I’m confident in that.”
Not many players, especially first-round draft picks, take part in five rookie camps. But Othmann told the media that he was on board when the Rangers asked him about coming. He’s eager to make an impression on new coach Mike Sullivan when the Rangers’ rookies play two games against their counterparts from the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday and Saturday in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
“For me, they’re pretty meaningful,” he said. “I mean, we’ve got a new coaching staff… I want to get out there and put my best foot forward.”
Othmann isn’t the only player who put in a lot of time in the gym this summer. Perreault, New York’s first-round choice (No. 23 overall) in the 2023 draft, came to camp having gained 10 pounds. The 20-year-old is up to 180 and likely needs to add more muscle, but said he’s determined to earn his way onto the opening-night roster after a five-game cup of coffee in April.
“Same mentality, I’m going in to [make the team out of] camp,” he said. “Obviously, I know that it’s not going to be given to me, so I’m going to come in every day, work hard and try to prove it.”
