The New York Rangers return to Madison Square Garden this week after ending a successful road trip to Canada and the Pacific Northwest, and the front office is shaking the roster up before the start of the homestand.
UPDATE: Jaroslav Chmelar has been recalled from the Hartford Wolf Pack and Brennan Othmann has been assigned to the Hartford Wolf Pack.
— NY Rangers PR (@NYR_PR) November 2, 2025
Othmann was a somewhat surprising recall based on how he performed in the preseason and the start of the American Hockey League season with the Hartford Wolf Pack, and he only suited up for one game in which he played just 12:31. He clearly isn't in Mike Sullivan's circle of trust, and there's no need for him to continue serving as a healthy scratch. He will return to the Wolf Pack with a chance to get into a rhythm and be a productive player, and he is replaced by someone who feels like a more natural fit.
Who is Jaroslav Chmelar?
Chmelar is a 22 year old winger who stands 6'3" and weighs 220 pounds. The Rangers drafted him 144th overall in the fifth round of the 2021 draft, and just started his third season in Hartford. He's off to a solid start for the Pack, and in nine games he had scored two goals and added three assists for five points.
Last season he appeared in 71 games for Hartford, and he tallied 12 goals and added 17 helpers for 29 points. Chmelar played at Providence College, and he posted a line of 12-16-28 in 59 games across two seasons.
What does this move mean for the Rangers?
The immediate impact of this move is getting Othmann back in the AHL so he can practice with the team, play meaningful minutes, and hopefully get back on track as a player. Chmelar appears to be a warm body in the event of an injury. There's also a chance that Vincent Trocheck rejoins the team in the coming weeks, and if that were to happen, Chmelar would be an easy player to send down to make room on the active roster.