Rangers prospect Brennan Othmann traded in the Ontario Hockey League

If you ask any hardcore Rangers fan or prospect guru, they will tell you that the cream of the New York Rangers’ young crop is Canadian forward Brennan Othmann. Othmann has been playing with the Flint Firebirds but it seems as if it is becoming more and more likely that Brennan Othmann will be finishing the season with a different OHL team. This doesn’t mean anything to the Rangers, they still hold his NHL rights. Just changes what team he is playing with for the rest of the season.

Othmann was the Rangers’ 16th overall pick in 2021 and has been a very good player for the Flint Firebirds. With the 6’0, 175 lbs winger apparently moving to Peterborough, the Rangers youngster will be spending some time in a new environment as the Petes look to try and get back to the promised land of the OHL and win a championship. He’s very much a veteran by Junior’s standards so it isn#t surprising that he is sought after.

If you’re wondering what kind of player Othmann is, think of him as a big ball of energy that views the forecheck as an excuse to make someone miserable. He’s going to be a fan favorite in Manhattan. He’s also extremely gifted offensively making him kind of a unicorn in the junior leagues. There’s always the question of how he will fair when he is playing against players that are older than he is but only time will tell.

So far, he’s put up 11 goals and 13 assists for 24 points in 16 games. He’s on pace to play 67 games and tally 100 points in the form of 46 goals and 54 helpers. That is the caliber of player he is in the OHL. It’s difficult for players to come out of the OHL producing like that and do it in the big leagues right away so when he does come out of the OHL, be patient. He’ll be a fan favorite but it is important he isn’t rushed.

One of the only reasons Othmann didn’t make the roster this season is that he is a left-winger by nature. One of the Rangers’ strengths is the depth on the left side of their forward core. It was always going to be better for him to go down to Flint and get some regular game time. Now, ignoring the fact he is currently suspended, he’s going that quite well. He is clearly becoming a better player.

Estimated time of arrival is a common conversation with prospects. As the biggest fan base in the United States and the driving force of the NHL in the US, Rangers fans are no different. Othmann is still likely a year or two away from being able to play at the NHL level. He’s got a long season in Ontario so he’ll have a shot next year. It’ll probably be the year after that once he has gotten acclimatized to the professional game.