The New York Rangers are trying to navigate a rough start to the 2025-26 season. The team can score goals on the road, but have only recorded one in four home games this season. There is still a lot of season left to turn things around.
Even though the Rangers' season just started, they are already receiving trade interest in one of their young forwards. Sportsnet NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reported that the Rangers were receiving interest from teams about Brennan Othmann, their 2021 first-round pick. Now, there is more buzz that Othmann could get dealt.
The Athletic's Chris Johnston unveiled his 10 early trade candidates, and Othmann made the list at No. 10. Johnston says that while the Rangers won't trade him just to trade him, they will consider it at the right price. Johnston also says that rivals see potential in Othmann.
The Athletic places Brennan Othmann on early trade candidates big board
"Othmann’s dangerous shot and ability to win back the puck are both considered strengths, albeit traits he’s yet to show with any consistency in limited looks at the NHL level," writes Johnston.
"Othmann didn’t make it to the end of training camp with the Rangers before being sent down to AHL Hartford and could benefit from a fresh opportunity elsewhere. Rival teams are intrigued by his potential."
Rangers general manager Chris Drury has shown that he'll trade a player away if he thinks he can get the proper return for them. He's dealt the likes of Chris Kreider, Jacob Trouba, and Kaapo Kakko to new teams for players and picks he felt could help better round out the roster.
With a new head coach in Mike Sullivan, Othmann had a chance to make an early statement in training camp to show he was worthy of a roster spot. Instead, Othmann was sent down to AHL Hartford with over a week left in the preseason. Othmann didn't do much with his opportunity and lost ground to the likes of Noah Laba, Brett Berard, and Gabriel Perreault. Laba has already made it onto the roster with Perreault and Berard, with Othmann in the minors, but both are likely to get called up before Othmann.
Othmann did receive some playing time in the pros, but didn't exactly do much either. Othmann played three games with the Rangers in the 2023-24 season, but logged zero points. The following year, Othmann recorded two assists in 22 games.
The potential is there for Othmann, as Johnston mentions. He just hasn't put it all together for the Rangers. A change of scenery could work wonders for Othmann, and rival teams seemingly have positive opinions of him. For now, it's up to Drury to give the thumbs up on a trade, and that's only if he feels he's getting a fair return for the former first-rounder.