The New York Rangers have decided to shake up their bottom six with the call-up of prospects Gabe Perreault and Brennan Othmann. They will be taking the place of Brett Berard and Jaroslav Chmelar, who are heading back to Hartford. Both Othmann and Perreault have received lots of hype as prospects, and it looks like the Rangers are finally going to give them some run in the NHL.
UPDATE: Brennan Othmann and Gabe Perreault have been recalled from the Hartford Wolf Pack. Brett Berard and Jaroslav Chmelar have been assigned to the Hartford Wolf Pack.
— NY Rangers PR (@NYR_PR) December 17, 2025
With the Rangers' struggles, a shakeup could not have come at a better time. So far, they are 16-15-4 and are in seventh place in the Metro. Their 36 points are the fourth-lowest in the Eastern Conference. Things have only gotten worse of late, as they have dropped five of their last six games, with their win coming in a come-from-behind victory over the Canadiens. With how much the team has struggled, adding some youth could help get things going. But how will the Rangers use Othmann and Perreault?
What role will Gabe Perreault and Brennan Othmann have on the Rangers?
This is not the first time this season that Perreault will suit up for the Rangers. He played in three games and recorded one assist. However, when Perreault was in the lineup, the Rangers won all three games. The offense was also much more effective. They also outscored their opponents 15-7 during that stretch. Even though Perreault did not make much of an impact on the score sheet, his presence alone was enough to improve the offense.
While his NHL stat line is not very impressive, his AHL stat line is. In 20 games this season, he has 10 goals and seven assists for 17 points. Just like during his brief stint early in the season, Perreault will likely be in the Rangers' top six. He'll probably find himself on the second line alongside J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck. This bumps Will Cuylle down to the third line, which is a much better spot for him to be in. This will give Perreault plenty of ice time, allowing him to show off his talent.
On the other hand, this truly feels like Othmann's real final chance to prove himself to the Rangers. He was one of the most talked-about prospects in the Rangers system. We have yet to see him become the player the Rangers envisioned. In 26 career NHL games, he has only registered two assists. His time in the AHL has been a little better. In 113 games, he has racked up 37 goals and 42 assists for 79 points. However, over 80 percent of these points came in the 2023-24 season.
Othmann will likely play on the third line. With the physical edge he brings, the hope is that he, alongside Cuylle and Noah Laba, will help create a shutdown, gritty line. One that provides the edge the Rangers have been missing for years. But if Othmann continues to struggle and is unable to produce consistently, his time in the organization will be over. They will likely move him at the trade deadline or the offseason in hopes of getting better NHL talent.
Although it's risky to put such high expectation on young players, it could be what the Rangers need. These could be the moves that get the Rangers back on track and end their struggles.