The 2025-26 NHL season has been full of trials and tribulations for the New York Rangers, and that has been especially true for prospect Brennan Othmann who finally broke through in a historic way for his team on Saturday. After 34 games of trying, and mostly failing, Othmann scored his first career NHL goal in what would become a 6-3 win which snapped a losing streak for the Blueshirts. The Rangers' recent declaration of the Letter 2.0 brought out a lot of emotions for the fanbase, and Othmann's performance is something that people could cheer about. To that point, Othmann's own postgame comments speak to the gravity of this moment, and it is quite possible that him finally breaking through could be the key to unlocking what's previously troubled him.
Othmann's words make clear how much this moment meant to him
When asked about the goal and how much he has thought about it, Othmann said, "Every day since I got my first call. You're wondering when it's going to go in and then it doesn't go in for 34 games and you're wondering if you're ever going to get that one. And you're wondering if you're ever going to get an opportunity to play in the NHL. You don't want to take these days for granted. You don't want to take playing for granted. Obviously, very fortunate to be here and very fortunate to see that one go in today."
Othmann has been up and down between the AHL with the Hartford Wolf Pack and the NHL with the Rangers on several occasions this season. In some cases he was brought up to serve as a spare in case of a pregame injury, and others saw him log minimal minutes. Fans who have watched Othmann can attest to him playing a bit stiff, and there have been occasions where he second guessed himself by passing up shots. It was so out of character for him, as a big part of his game as a prospect was his shot and willingness to shoot.
Othmann was an accomplished scorer in the OHL, and he hit the ground running as a rookie in the AHL. The Rangers had hoped he'd be able to have as quick an impact at the NHL level as he did elsewhere, but that ultimately didn't happen. But now Othmann's name is in the NHL's history book, and he joins the list of numerous players who can say they have scored a goal. With this weight off his shoulders, and expectations low for the team the rest of the season, maybe Othmann will play a bit looser and generate some more offense.
Othmann can't say enough about the help Mika Zibanejad has provided for him
On the note of being able to play a little more freely, Othmann noted that Mika Zibanejad is a player who has been very encouraging of him throughout this process. Othmann shared, "Mika came up to me in the Seattle game and said not to hang your head and don't worry about. 'It's gonna come,' and a few games later, it came. He was the first one in there after the game, and gave me a hug and said, 'Congrats.' He's a really good leader, and I'm thankful that we have a guy like that on this team."
The Rangers are heading out to the West Coast for a slate of games, and their most recent victory is something that they may be able to use as a bit of an inflection point. The front office is going to make moves that are geared toward helping the long-term future of the club, but it was good to see the group play with pride. Othmann is a player who may get increased playing time as more familiar names are moved out, and him using this moment as a launching board could go a long way to him changing the narrative of him as a player.