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For these clamoring for hockey in August, tune into the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship match on NHL Community. Not solely will it assist cross the time till the Rangers take the ice for coaching camp on the finish of September, however there are seven Rangers prospects representing 5 totally different international locations on the worldwide stage.
The newborn Blueshirt to look at to date has been Brennan Othmann, the No. 16 general choose within the 2021 NHL Draft.
Othmann has recorded two targets and 4 assists in 4 video games, together with the opener in Canada’s 6-3 victory Monday over Finland. Three of these factors (a objective, two assists) got here in an 11-1 beatdown of Slovakia final Thursday after Othmann was a wholesome scratch for the group-play opener towards Latvia. The left winger additionally took a nasty hit from behind by fellow Rangers prospect and Czech skater Jaroslav Chmelar, who was ejected for the infraction, earlier than dishing a large examine of his personal on Blue Jackets prospect David Jiricek in Canada’s 5-1 win over the Czech Republic on Saturday.
Othmann, who scored 50 targets and racked up 97 factors within the Ontario Hockey League final season, is in a novel spot heading into Rangers coaching camp. As a result of the 19-year-old will not be eligible to be assigned to the workforce’s AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack — as a result of the truth that he received’t flip 20 till Jan. 5 — Othmann will both make the Rangers’ opening-night roster or be assigned again to the OHL.
Requested throughout final month’s Rangers improvement camp if he felt like he achieved all he wanted to final season within the OHL, Othmann was definitive together with his reply.
“I really feel like I used to be top-of-the-line gamers within the league,” he stated. “I achieved all my targets I set out [and] the targets that [me] and the [Flint Firebirds] set out for our group. I did an excellent job myself this yr. I needed to be a top-five participant within the league, and I believe I established that.”
Contemplating a majority of the Rangers’ (pre-trade deadline) lineup is returning for the 2022-23 season, Othmann must critically impress administration to earn a spot. Plus, fellow Rangers prospect and countryman Will Cuylle’s NHL-ready construct and enjoying type probably has him forward of Othmann on the depth chart. Even provided that the AHL will not be an possibility, it’s onerous to see the Rangers fast-tracking Othmann to the varsity roster — except he dominates coaching camp, after all.
And if he did flip heads throughout camp, Othmann nonetheless would most likely must flip to his off aspect on the best wing. His enjoying type would actually solely work within the prime six, and the Rangers hope these spots shall be crammed by the likes of Alexis Lafreniere, Kaapo Kakko or perhaps even Vitali Kravtsov.
If Othmann is assigned to the OHL, the Rangers received’t be capable to recall him in the course of the season. To sum every thing up, it’s secure to say Othmann is an extended shot to make the Rangers’ opening-night roster.
Othmann was noncommittal when requested whether or not he feels as if he has something left to show within the OHL, however he did admit he had some unfinished enterprise.
“[T]he solely factor I have to show is to have the ability to win,” he stated. “I wish to win a championship. We misplaced in Sport 7 of the Western Convention Remaining, and we have been so shut. It was proper there at our fingertips and we sort of simply let it slip.”
Scouting employees additions
The Rangers introduced new additions to their scouting employees: Garth Pleasure will function the affiliate director of participant personnel and director of professional scouting, and Andy Schneider will function the director of North American beginner scouting.
Pleasure joins the Rangers from the reigning Stanley Cup champion Avalanche, for whom he had been a scout since 1998. Schneider spent a complete of seven years as an beginner scout/head of CHL scouting for the Blue Jackets and Devils.
Mailbag
Due to our Texts from the Blue Seats subscribers for some last-minute questions.
Who's the favourite for the sixth D-man slot, and can the pairings stay the identical as final yr? Do you suppose the Rangers will invite a veteran left defenseman to camp on knowledgeable tryout?
— Jan Levine, Kerry DeMarco, David Parmele
I wouldn’t say that head coach Gerard Gallant is married to the earlier defensive pairings, however there's some consolation in familiarity. The Jacob Trouba-Okay’Andre Miller tandem was simply the best final season, however for the reason that third pair was at all times a weak level, it could immediate administration to check different combos. The very last thing the Rangers wish to do is jumble their defensive pairs, separate Adam Fox and Ryan Lindgren for the primary time in a pair seasons and ship the D corps into chaos, however it could be value attempting out to unfold the wealth as a substitute of loading up the highest two duos.
The Rangers can’t afford to deliver anybody else in, so a PTO probably isn’t on the desk except there are accompanying roster strikes. At this level, I’d say Zac Jones, Matthew Robertson and sure, Libor Hajek are the front-runners to spherical out the Rangers protection.
Rangers fan since 1968, so I totally loved the run this yr, however trying again — and ahead — I’m left questioning if Chris Drury [hamstrung] the membership by overpaying for Barclay Goodrow final yr and dropping every thing from the commerce deadline offers. Proper now, I don’t see the workforce as any higher, except the children actually step up this yr. Your ideas?
— Charles Taber
Charles, you hit the nail proper on the top with this one. A lot of the Rangers success this upcoming season will hinge on the younger ahead group in Lafreniere, Kakko, Kravtsov and Filip Chytil. However given their promising performances in the course of the playoffs, it’s a bet value taking, in my view. It’s true, the Goodrow signing could not pan out in the long term given the Rangers’ cap circumstances. As my pricey colleague Larry Brooks identified in late July, Goodrow and Ryan Lindgren could also be cap casualties in some unspecified time in the future after this upcoming season.
Is Kravtsov commerce bait or are the Rangers hoping he’ll be a top-six ahead?
— Tim Maher
Everyone knows what occurred final season, when Kravtsov declined an AHL project and went house to play within the Kontinental Hockey League, so his standing with the group is in his palms going ahead. It might be very best for the Rangers if Kravtsov could make the opening-night roster, particularly due to his $875,000 cap hit. Kravtsov will certainly be one of many prime gamers the entrance workplace is evaluating throughout coaching camp.
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