Brennan Othmann is treating Rangers rookie camp like a real audition

Brennan Othmann took the ice at the Madison Square Garden Training Center in Greenburgh on Wednesday to take part in Day 1 of New York Rangers rookie camp. It marked the fifth camp that Othmann has participated in since being drafted by the Blueshirts, and he views it as an opportunity to get on the ice early as he prepares for what should be a stiff competition for a spot on the roster.

Othmann put in the work during the summer

Othmann trained at Gary Roberts Performance in Ontario, a place utilized by superstars such as Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, and he feels the switch has helped him be more prepared for the upcoming season.

Othmann feels more confident heading into the season

It is encouraging to hear that Othmann is feeling strong and confident and ready to make an impact. He previously was listed at 192 pounds, so while a three pound gain isn't a ton, we don't know how much actual muscle he put on. It's a running joke that during the preseason and training camp players are often "in the best shape of their life", and fans really hope that's the case here.

Othmann was drafted 16th overall back in 2021, and to this point he hasn't produced like the team expected him to. It might seem harsh but Wyatt Johnston (23rd overall), Zachary Bolduc (17th overall), Logan Stankoven (47th overall), and Matthew Knies (57th overall) are just an example of players who are already making an impact at the NHL level. Development certainly takes time, but there are limits to how long a team can be expected to wait.

Othmann's major claim to fame remains a line of 33-36-69 in 94 AHL games. If he's become a better version of himself, it will enable him to start contributing in a fashion that is on par with some of the players from his draft class. But he's running out of time, and you get the sense he realizes that too.

If Othmann can build on went right last season, he could secure a roster spot

Per Evolving-Hockey, Othmann posted a 70.06 goals for percentage, a 53.51 Corsi for percentage, and a 51.69 expected goals for percentage this past season. The Rangers as a team scored 3.41 goals for per 60 minutes, and conceded just 1.46 against.

These numbers came during just 214 minutes at 5v5, and in 22 total games he had just a pair of assists while averaging 9:58 per game. It is quite possible that his decent underlying metrics won't continue across a larger sample and against better competition, and that's what the team will try to learn in training camp. If this is the player Othmann truly is, he should have no problem earning a spot.

The key will be Othmann asserting himself, shooting the puck, and getting involved. He hasn't done that in the NHL to date, but the talent is clearly there. Hopefully he's able to leverage his hard work this summer in the preseason, because Othmann at his potential would make the Rangers a much deeper team. We've seen his goal-scoring ability outside the NHL, this should be the year he puts it together on Broadway.