Who Rangers fans should root for in the Junior Hockey playoffs.

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Maxim Barbashev (Round 5, 2022, 161 overall), QMJHL:

MONCTON, NB – APRIL 01: Maxim Barbashev#49 of Moncton Wildcats shoots the puck against Olivier Ciarlo#40 for Baie-Comeau Drakkar during the first overtime period at Avenir Centre on April 1, 2023, in Moncton, Canada. (Photo by Dale Preston/Getty Images) /

Barbashev is the last of the Rangers prospects in the Q, remaining this season. His favored Moncton Wildcats are in a best-of-seven first-round series against Baie-Comeau Drakkar. The 19-year-old Russian winger has exploded for a career campaign in his third year playing North American hockey, as his 32 goals and 65 points in 67 games rank fourth on the team.

Yet Dobber Prospects warns fans against getting excited, citing that while he brings a “Physical edge” and is tough to defend, he’s still fine-tuning the “Inconsistencies” in his play, which means he’s expected to remain in Moncton for at least another season, hence his 40% chance of currently reaching NHL stardom. Barbashev had an assist off an odd-man rush in game one, but Moncton squandered a 3-0 lead, falling 4-3 in double-overtime on Saturday.

Brennan Othmann (Round 1, 2021, 16 overall),OHL:

HALIFAX, CANADA – JANUARY 05: Brennan Othmann #7 of Team Canada skates the puck during the third period against Team Czech Republic in the gold medal round of the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship at Scotiabank Centre on January 5, 2023, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Team Canada defeated Team Czech Republic 3-2 in overtime and become the 2023 IIHF World Junior Champions. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /

The last time we checked in on the face of the Rangers farm system, 20-year-old Brennan Othmann per his request, had been traded. After tallying 13 goals and 24 points sixteen games into the 22-23 season, as captain of the putrid Flint Firebirds, following his 50-goal and 97-point campaign across 66 tilts in 21-22, the most in both categories by a player in their franchise history, the Center was dealt to his hometown team, the Peterborough Petes.

Although his scoring dipped as a result of playing on a team that is a Memorial Cup contender, Othmann finished the regular season with 18 goals and 33 points in 40 games for his new club, one he’ll likely be leaving for the Hartford Wolfpack of the AHL in the fall or earlier if they’re eliminated from the OHL playoffs.

This probably won’t be soon considering Othmann’s game-winner on Saturday to go along with an assist in the contest, lifted Peterborough to a 2-1 victory and a 2-0 first-round series lead over the Sudbury Wolves. Othmann also had an assist in the 4-2 game one win and claimed Rangers Prospect of the Month honors for his six goals and 15 points in 14 games during March.

Last but not least on our tour, the Wild West.

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