It’s common knowledge that the New York Rangers prospect pool isn’t the best in the NHL. However, there is still a lot of talent to like in this pool. Without a shadow of a doubt, there is one prospect that stands head and shoulders above the rest of them and that would be Brennan Othmann. Othmann is the best prospect the Rangers have in their system and he may not be in the NHL this year, but he’s still the best kid the Rangers have.
Othmann won the gold medal at the rearranged IIHF World Junior Championships back in August and had a strong look from the coaching staff of the New York Rangers when he was at training camp this off-season. He’ll be looking to break into the NHL eventually and will be a member of the New York Rangers, assuming they do not move him. He looked very strong.
Since training camp, Othamnn has returned to the Flint Firebirds where he is the captain of the roster. His four goals and three helpers for seven points in just three games have helped put a lot of stock into the 202116th-overall pick the New York Rangers made. With Othmann’s current pace in the OHL, he’s projected to put up some ridiculous totals.
According to EliteProspects, Othmann is projected to hit 91 goals and 68 assists for 159 points playing in just 68 games. So, that is what he would finish the year at if he keeps up this pace. Now, if he does that, that would be incredible, but it’s likely we see that come down closer to the 120-point mark than the 160-point mark. It’s still utterly ridiculous for the 19-year-old, but let’s put some barriers on my overhyping of prospects.
It isn’t a secret that the Rangers hope Brennan Othmann is a top-six winger in the NHL eventually. It’s fair to say that at this point he is not. At just 19 years old, there is a lot of time remaining in his development. There will be questions as to when Othmann will actually arrive at the NHL level, but it is safe to say there will be at least another year before the Canadian joins the Blueshirts.
As a left winger, there has been no reason to rush Othmann into the NHL anyway. New York’s left wing is incredibly strong and the lineup doesn’t urgently need more help from the prospect pool at this moment. Leaving Othmann down in Flint is going to let him continue his development. Even at the NHL level this year, he was likely going to be locked into a fourth-line role on his preferred left wing.
There have been arguments as to whether or not he could have been tried on his off-wing. New York’s right-wing is not as strong as its left and the help on that side would have aided the roster a lot. Either way, he is back in the Ontario Hockey League for this season and will not be available to the Rangers until the end of his season up in Canada. Whether that was the right decision or not, we will see.