Former 1st-Rounder Brennan Othmann On Trade Block for Rangers

Brennan Othmann, NY Rangers forward waits for a face off

Former New York Rangers first-round pick Brennan Othmann just hasn't been able to seize an opportunity to break through with the big club. After being selected with the 16th pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, the left-shot forward has only managed to get in 25 games total with the Blueshirts, 22 of them last season.

He failed to break camp with the team again this fall. Now, Othmann’s name is “gaining traction” among other NHL teams, per insider Elliotte Friedman. He is reporting that the Rangers are open to trading Othmann to a new situation.

I think Othmann and the Rangers would agree that this was a disappointing exhbition season for him. There was an opportunity there and unfortunately, he just didn't grab it...
There’s been conversations with other clubs about his future… it simply may be that he needs a fresh start elsewhere.
I have not heard that he's asked for a trade, but is it time for him to try somewhere else?

Friedman feels that the Rangers would be looking for a similar type of return: A high draft pick, a player who hasn't quite cracked the NHL yet, but has a first-round pedigree. But do other teams feel that Othmann is a better prospect than their own guy, asks the insider.

"Other teams would be like, 'We're interested in Othmann, we'd love to give him a shot, but he hasn't made the NHL yet, so he's not as valuable to you.' But the Rangers would be like, 'No, he's still a prospect... He could go hit somewhere else, and we see it that way.'"

The 22-year-old registered 12 goals and 20 points in 27 games last season with the Hartford Wolfpack in the AHL, but just two points in his 22 games with the Rangers, in only 9:58 average ice-time per night.