The New York Rangers recalled Brett Berard on Sunday, and the young forward has been handed a golden opportunity that he needs to take full advantage of. Berard is the fourth forward who has joined the team from the Hartford Wolf Pack this season, and he happens to be the one with the most NHL experience. That should give him a leg up, but that remains to be seen. With a slew of important games coming up, Berard has the chance to prove he belongs, and he needs to make the most of it.
Berard had an up and down NHL experience as a rookie
The Rangers had Berard on their roster for 35 games last season, and the youngster scored six goals and added four assists for 10 points. During that stretch he logged 370 minutes at 5v5 and posted a 42.22 GF%, a 46.4 CF%, and a 42.68 xGF%. It should be noted that he played most of his stint with the Rangers with a torn labrum in his shoulder, and that could explain some of his poor performance. He joins the team now healthy, and the hope is he can have the success he's shown at the AHL level.
Berard's performance in Hartford has been strong, and that's what Rangers need
The 2023-24 season was Berard's rookie campaign in Hartford, and he ended the season with 25 goals, 23 assists, and 48 points in 71 games. He followed that up with a line of 1-5-6 in 10 playoff games. His sophomore season was a short but effective one, and he posted a line of 9-14-23 in 30 games played before getting the call to join the Rangers in the NHL. He was not extended a roster spot to open this season, and in 17 games has gotten off to a 2-7-9 start.
Berard has shown an ability to score in the minors, and did that in a limited stint with the Rangers last year. He is a high energy guy who is quite noticeable when he's on the ice, and his presence could invigorate the group. In many ways, Berard is similar to former Rangers captain Ryan Callahan, and the undersized youngster certainly plays bigger than his listed height and weight.
The Rangers used Jonny Brodzinski on a line with Mika Zibanejad and Will Cuylle during Saturday's loss against the Utah Mammoth. It remains to be seen who will come out for Berard, although there's a chance they hold him out until he practices a bit with the team, but ideally he'll get a chance to show what he can do in the top six. He wasn't shy about looking to shoot the puck when he was with the team last season, and the Rangers need more of that. The corresponding move in this case would likely see Juuso Parssinen return to the press box as a healthy scratch, and that ideally would make the most sense.
New York is back in action tonight on home ice against the St. Louis Blues. It's an opportunity to end their four-game losing streak, and get the vibes back in order before heading back on the road. Hopefully Berard's presence can provide a bit of a spark, as this point they can use all the help they can get.