As the New York Rangers open their 2024 training camp, there are three prospects who could play their way onto the opening night roster with a strong camp performance. The question is given that the Rangers are in this "win now" mode would even a strong camp make a difference?
From a salary cap view, finding room on the roster for those on entry-level contracts would help the franchise create flexibility with the salary cap. Every dollar that the Rangers can save at the start of the season would help pay dividends come trading deadline time as the franchise will open the camp with just a little over $623 thousand in open cap space.
One of my favorite prospects to watch in action over the last few years has been Brett Berard who was the Rangers fifth-round pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. Generously listed at 5'9, Berard just might be the Rangers best all-around prospect.
At Hartford last season Berard was the leading goal scorer with twenty-five goals. Toss in twenty-three assists and you have the third leading overall scorer on the Hartford Wolfpack with a 25-23-48 season.
Berard if he were even two inches taller would never have fallen to the fifth round as he has one of the best Hockey IQs among the Ranger prospects. Berard is like a chess grandmaster with the puck on his stick, able to think two-three moves ahead of what others might do.
I could see Berard sticking with the Rangers as a thirteenth forward/power-play specialist to start the season as really all he needs is a chance to prove that he can play. Make him the second unit power play quarterback and he won't disappoint.
His ability to put his passes right on his teammate's stick is uncanny as is his ability to "read" the ice and direct traffic. As a player who has been known more as a playmaker than a goal scorer, Berard's goal scoring is a huge bonus.
The only question about Berard is due to his smaller size and that is can he manage the more physical players at the NHL level? The answer is you cannot hit what is not there as Berard's speed will help offset his smaller size.
It is very disappointing to see so many already turning against Brendan Othmann, calling the 2021 first round pick a "bust" after just one year as a professional. It is not Othmann's fault that the hype by the Rangers and some in the media has gone off the charts.
It is not something that Othmann can control so allow me to fix a couple of mistaken ideas. The biggest one is expecting Othmann to just be handed a spot not only on the roster but on either of the top two lines borders on the insanity.
Haven't people learned from the mistakes of rushing Alexis Lafreniere and Kaapo Kakko to the NHL? Use Lafreniere as the best example of how to almost ruin a prospect.
Othmann has all of one season as a professional under his belt and it wasn't a bad one as he was 21-28-49 playing for Hartford last season. In many ways, Othmann's path to the NHL is mirroring Will Cuylle's as Cuylle used his one season in Hartford as a springboard towards becoming a Ranger.
The difference is though Othmann offers much more than Cuylle does. Yes, Othmann can score but unlike most power forwards, he can also create offense not only for himself but for those on the ice with him at all.
Othmann from the right faceoff circle in the offensive zone is about automatic as it can get. Othmann uses that area of the ice as his personal playground. He can direct traffic, set up scoring chances or score on his own.
Another area that gets overlooked about Othmann is that he is just as good defensively as he is on offense. When used on the penalty kill, he can force teams to pay attention to where he is almost taking away their man advantage.
Want a good comparison for Othman then try former All-Star Keith Tkachuk as Tkachuk was as good as it gets when it came to what an NHL power forward should look like. And don't even think about running one of Othmann's teammates as he will not let anyone try to run or bully one of his teammates.
Othmann has no problem dropping the gloves if the situation calls for it. Why not try Othmann with the BFFs (Mika and Kreider) during the exhibition games and see if there is any chemistry?
If not, then return Othmann to Hartford rather than keep him as a fourth-liner or extra player. The more regular minutes Othmann plays the sooner he will arrive on Broadway.
Our third player is actually the one player who the Rangers need more than Berard and Othmann in Adam Edstrom as this is the replacement for Barclay Goodrow. Matt Rempe got all the attention but if you stopped and watched Edstrom in action, then you saw one exceptionally good defensive forward.
Forget that he is 6'7 as while it is nice, it isn't what stands out about Edstrom. What does stand out is that not only is he a solid defensive forward with a touch of offense but that he can play whatever role you ask of him.
Just like Goodrow, Edstrom can be plugged in anywhere among the bottom six forwards and be a contributor. The Rangers badly need a physical replacement for Goodrow and sorry as much of a fan of Matt Rempe that I am, Edstrom is the better fundamentally sound player who can do more for the team.
Why I did not pick:
Adam Sykora: Log jam of left wings ahead of him on the depth chart, Solid defensively but 6'7 Edstrom is always going to beat out 5'11 Sykora.
Matt Robertson: His fourth year at Hartford, just don't think he has what it takes to advance to the NHL level. He badly needs a strong performance at training camp and in the exhibition games. If he doesn't earn the seventh defenseman role then he will be buried in Hartford.
Jaroslav Chmelar: He should not have left Providence this past spring. Too inconsistent and the lack of advanced development is going to hurt his chances. Badly hope to be wrong here as Chmelar has all the tools and the talent but I question his desire to become a Ranger.