Rangers top prospects struggling with consistency in preseason

Training camp is an excellent chance for young, budding prospects to make a statement and earn their way onto the New York Rangers opening-night roster.

Look no further than Will Cuylle, who thrust his way into the Rangers rotation last season as a 21-year-old, impressing coach Peter Laviolette with his aggressive and well-rounded play during the 2023-24 preseason.

Cuylle went on to play 81 of 82 regular-season games, leading all NHL rookies with 247 hits as a welcome addition to the bottom six. He also played in each of of New York’s 16 postseason games.

This year, the spotlight falls on a few youngsters trying to crack the roster — Matt Rempe, Adam Edstrom, and perhaps their highest-rated prospects at training camp, Brennan Othmann and Brett Berard.

But while Rempe and Edstrom made a strong first impression in preseason play, Othmann and Berard are still struggling to find their footing.

Appearing in the Blueshirts’ first two preseason games, Othmann has been held scoreless with one shot on goal. Berard made his 2024 preseason debut in the wild 6-4 win against the New York Islanders and did not record a point nor a shot in nearly 11 minutes of ice time.

“I thought I was a bit sloppy,” Othmann told reporters Wednesday morning, following the Islanders game. “You can’t really have those types of games in training camp, in preseason. Hopefully, I get a few more and prove that I can still be here — prove that I still want to play for ‘Lavi’ and be here full time.”

After playing on the left of former Hartford Wolf Pack teammate Johnny Brodzinski and Blueshirts regular Jimmy Vesey in the preseason opener Sunday against the Boston Bruins, Othmann got the chance Tuesday to play right wing of a line that boasted Filip Chytil and New York’s leading scorer Artemi Panarin. Berard, meanwhile, played left wing next to Vincent Trocheck and Alexis Lafreniere in his debut.

But despite getting the opportunity to skate with members of the top-six, or at the very least top-six caliber players in Chytil’s case, neither Berard nor Othmann was particularly noticeable. As a matter of fact, neither line was particularly noticeable.

In fact, the standout line, at least up until the final five minutes, was Edstrom, Rempe, and Jake Leschyshyn, one of the few forward pairings that generated consistent pressure.

Othmann did have a strong shift about halfway through the 3rd period, setting up his linemates for a couple of strong chances before capping it off with a big hit behind the net. But shifts like that were few and far between.

Othmann took an unnecessary slashing penalty on Islanders goaltender Henrik Tikkanen early in the third and didn’t have much of an offensive presence throughout the game. He’s been physical, though, especially in the Bruins game when he delivered several big hits and dropped the gloves with Parker Wotherspoon.

It was a similar story for Berard who, outside of a good look in the 1st period that missed the net, was not very active offensively and struggled with puck control, particularly in the offensive zone.

“It’s training camp, this is the opportunity players are looking for,” Laviolette said following the comeback win over the Islanders. “There’s been times where you’re noticing some of these players. Whether it’s Berard or Othmann or Edstrom or Rempe, it’s that consistency part of it that’s the key to taking that next step to be able to do it shift after shift and game after game.”

It’s still early in the preseason, but so far, it’s the consistency that’s eluded Othmann and Berard the most.

Related: Filip Chytil returns to Rangers preseason game, scores against Islanders after injury scare

Uphill battle for Othmann and Berard with limited forward spots

Berard and Othmann are just two of a big list of forwards trying to put their best foot forward (no pun intended) and survive final cuts. Unfortunately for them, there’s limited space as the Rangers return the majority of their core from last season.

The top six remains nearly identical — Reilly Smith slotting in as top-line right wing marks the only change. Eyeing the bottom six, you’d anticipate that Filip Chytil, Kaapo Kakko, Will Cuylle, and Jimmy Vesey are locks to make it as well.

That leaves a fourth-line center spot, projected to be free agent signing Sam Carrick, although Brodzinski could vy for it as well, and room for one final winger.

There’s also space for a 13th forward, but you have to imagine that general manager Chris Drury isn’t inclined to have either of his highly-rated wingers waste away up in the press box. It seems much more befitting of an experienced veteran like Brodzinski or Carrick, or perhaps one of their massive giants with less of an offensive profile like Rempe or Edstrom.

In all likelihood, Berard or Othmann would have to play well enough to earn an everyday wing role if they wish to make the opening-day roster. That’s a difficult enough task, made only harder by their inconsistent play and strong showings from Rempe and Edstrom.

Now perhaps Panarin’s lower-body injury, which Laviolette considers day to day, could open up a lane for one of these youngsters if it’s more extreme than the Rangers are letting on. But barring injury, it’s going to be a tough uphill climb the rest of the way.

To be fair, it’s far from a disaster if Othmann and Berard both start the season in Hartford. The Rangers’ roster, and the forward group in particular, has ample NHL experience — conversely, Othmann has played just three games in the NHL, while Berard has yet to make his debut.

They’re both still young — Othmann 21 and Berard 22 — so there’s still room to develop. With the Rangers trying again to end their Stanley Cup drought, and the threat of roster upheaval looming if they fail, perhaps it’s not the worst thing if that development happens at the AHL level.

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More must-reads:

• Brennan Othmann impresses in Rangers’ 5-2 preseason win against Bruins
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• Rangers vs. Bruins: 3 things to watch for in preseason clash at MSG