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Why trading Lafrenière could happen

By Steve Paulus

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 08: Alexis Lafreniere #13 of the New York Rangers skates against the Florida Panthers at Madison Square Garden on November 08, 2021 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Panthers 4-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 08: Alexis Lafreniere #13 of the New York Rangers skates against the Florida Panthers at Madison Square Garden on November 08, 2021 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Panthers 4-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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SECAUCUS, NEW JERSEY – JULY 23: With the 16th pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, the New York Rangers select Brennan Othmann during the first round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft at the NHL Network studios on July 23, 2021 in Secaucus, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
SECAUCUS, NEW JERSEY – JULY 23: With the 16th pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, the New York Rangers select Brennan Othmann during the first round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft at the NHL Network studios on July 23, 2021 in Secaucus, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Brennan Othmann looks like a stud pick

In Chris Drury’s first NHL draft it looks like he has stuck it rich with his first pick, Brennan Othmann, who was taken 16th overall.  The Rangers passed on some quality players ranked higher to snap up Othmann.  Wow, has he made that choice look like a good one.

Othmann is playing for the Flint Firebirds of the Ontario Hockey League and the 19-year-old has been lights out.  In 33 games he has scored 27 goals and 53 points.  He is second in the league in goals and 7th in points.  Last week he was named the fourth captain in the history of the Firebirds.  When it came to the World Junior Championships last month, the decision to leave Othmann off the team was met with disbelief by hockey cognoscenti.

Not only that, he played last season with men in a pro league in Switzerland for EHC Olten and the then 18-year old scored seven goals and 16 points in 34 games.  He also helped Team Canada win the WJC Under 18 championship with three goals and six points in seven games.

Othmann looks like a stud. In his recently released prospect pool rankings for The Athletic (subscription required), Scott Wheeler ranked him the top prospect in the Rangers organization, head of Zac Jones, Braden Schneider and Vitali Kravtsov.  In his glowing report he said that Othmann is “emerging as one of junior hockey’s most dangerous players.”  In terms of skill he says that Othmann  has “a lethal, masked release that he can get off of his blade at multiple points while still maintaining pinpoint accuracy. He’s got a silky first touch into quick hands. He’s got that sixth sense as a scorer, where he just finds holes in coverage and in goalies to finish plays at a higher rate than most. He’s got a heady spatial awareness inside the offensive zone and a good feel for where his teammates are on the ice. He plays a determined off-puck game that engages in battles even though he’s not a power type….He’s got top-six, top power-play tools. ”

That’s quite a recommendation and there is only one problem.  It’s the position that he plays.  Brennan Othmann is a left winger.

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