Brett Berard gets another chance and the Rangers need it to matter

Second chances has been a big theme of the 2025-26 New York Rangers season, as many players and prospects have been given chances to prove themselves, only to fail, and then be given another opportunity out of necessity. Given the assignment of J.T. Miller to IR, Brett Berard has once again been summoned to the main roster with the hopes he can provide a spark and be an impactful and cost effective NHL winger.

Berard needs to be more effective this time round

Berard entered the season as one of the front runners to claim a coveted spot in the bottom six of the New York Rangers, and ultimately ceded that position and was assigned to the Hartford Wolf Pack. He's logged 19 games at the AHL level this season, and the player who was quite the sparkplug for the Blueshirts in 2024-25 has been quite dim this season. He's scored just two goals and added seven assists for nine points, a far cry from the line of 9-14-23 he compiled in 30 games last year to force the Rangers hand in promoting him.

Berard went pointless during his first 11 game stint in the NHL this season, and he didn't have the impact the Rangers would have liked. Per Evolving-Hockey, Berard has a 38.51 GF%, a 46.57 CF%, and a 50.29 xGF%. That puts him near the bottom of the list or dab smack in the middle for the above categories, and that is something that will need to change.

Berard has another golden opportunity in front of him, and he needs to make the most of it. Taylor Raddysh, a UFA addition this offseason at the price of two years at $1.5 million a year, has not been great for the Rangers. Berard is only here because Miller is on IR and the team is still dealing with a bit of a flu bug, but this is his moment to show he belongs.

Berard played through an injury for most of his time with the Rangers last season, and the hope was that he'd be in a position to hit the ground running now that he's healthy. He's been given new life with this latest recall, and hopefully he understands the full gravity of the situation.

Ultimately Berard has achieved a lot already as a 5'9", 174 pound player who was drafted in the fifth round of the draft. But he showed glimpses of potential last season with six goals and 10 points in 30 games with limited ice time, and he played the game bigger than his listed height and weight, and gave the team a noticeable lift. It could have been a flash in the pan moment during an otherwise disappointing season, but here's to hoping Berard is able to do what others haven't this season, and make the most of a second chance opportunity.