TARRYTOWN ‒ Rookie camp is underway at the MSG Training Center, with 25 Rangers' prospects vying to make an impression before the full complement of NHLers arrive next week.
In recent seasons at least one or two rookies seemed likely to make the opening-night roster, but that doesn't feel like the case this year. A few will be in the mix for call-ups in the coming months, but chances are they'll have to bide their time.
Granted, that could change in the next couple weeks. An injury to a veteran or strong camp from an up-and-comer may convince team president Chris Drury and head coach Peter Laviolette to make room. That's exactly what happened last year when Will Cuylle bulldozed his way into the lineup and played in 81 of 82 games, plus another 16 in the playoffs. But if we're placing mid-September bets, the prospects skating this week will all begin the season with AHL Hartford or their respective junior teams.
Who has the best chance of overcoming those long odds? Two players come to mind, albeit for very different reasons.
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Rangers 2024 prospect rankings: Part 2, Nos. 1-5
The first is Adam Edström. The 6-foot-7 forward already has 11 NHL games under his belt − some will recall he got the first crack at a fourth-line spot before Matt Rempe took the league by storm − and has earned some advocates within the organization. Size and physicality are traits the Rangers prioritize for their bottom six, with Edström bringing ample supplies of both. He's quite mobile for his size, as well, and is considered advanced defensively compared to Rempe, according to some scouts.
"I believe in myself," Edström said Wednesday when asked about his chances to make the roster. "I know it's a tough thing to do, but I'm just going to go out there, play my best and do the best I can every day, and then see how far that takes me."
The other is Brennan Othmann. He's the highest-ranked prospect at this camp − No. 1 Gabe Perreault is at Boston College preparing for his sophomore season − and has a full year of pro hockey under his belt, finishing second for Hartford in both goals (21) and points (49) last season.
The 21-year-old earned a three-game stint with the Rangers in January, a clear sign that he's close to realizing his dream. He said he used that as motivation in the weight room over the summer while bulking up to a new high of 192 pounds.
"Being able to play at that level and that pace − knowing that I can play at that capacity and play with the players there − and I can handle myself," Othmann said when asked what he took away from his brief NHL experience. "First couple of games, first couple shifts, you're a bit starstruck at the players you're playing with and against, and at MSG. It's just exciting to be back. I'm excited to get it underway."
It's very similar to the spot where Cuylle was at this time last year, although most feel he was further along physically and defensively at the same stage in his development. The biggest difference, though, is that Othmann profiles as more of an offensive, top-nine winger, and there's no obvious opening in any of those positions . Chris Kreider, Alexis Lafrenière and Artemi Panarin are entrenched in the top six, with veteran trade-addition Reilly Smith likely to fill the fourth and final spot. Meanwhile, Cuylle and Kaapo Kakko are the favorites to flank the third line.
Cuylle could feasibly drop to the fourth line to create room for Othmann, but that would come at the expense of the only rookie-eligible player who isn't practicing with this year's crop of prospects.
The fact that Rempe got a pass on rookie camp speaks volumes about how he's viewed by Rangers' brass. He played only six more regular-season games than Edström, yet he's been promoted to skate in separate sessions with the NHL guys. It sure looks like the 6-foot-8 bruiser has a leg up on a fourth-line role, where he'd form a probable trio with newly signed center Sam Carrick and veteran Jimmy Vesey.
That's a big man standing in the way of Edström, Othmann and others hoping to earn a spot, not to mention the presence of do-it-all forward Jonny Brodzinski as the front-runner to break camp as the 13th and final forward.
A busy summer for Brett Berard
I'd throw Brett Berard firmly into the mix of forwards who are inching closer to an NHL opportunity and could get the call this season.
While working on this year's organizational prospect rankings, multiple sources referred to the speedy 22-year-old as Hartford's most effective rookie forward last season. He led the Wolf Pack with 25 goals and played a relentless, hustling style that could make him a dynamic bottom-sixer. And while some have expressed concerns about the 5-foot-9 fifth-round pick withstanding the punishment required to play that grueling role as he moves up the ladder, he answered the bell in 2023-24 by leading Hartford in total games played.
Berard followed up with an intense offseason regime. He roomed and trained with Seattle Kraken rising star and close friend Matty Beniers and came to camp with about five pounds of added muscle.
"We're so close in age, we're such close buddies, and we're honest with each other," Berard said. "On the ice, off the ice, in the gym − no matter what it was − we were always competing with each other's numbers and trying to make each other better. It was an awesome summer for me. I'm trying to take everything that he taught me this summer into camp."
After training with Beniers for a number of weeks, Berard headed south to the New York area about a month ago to get a jump on early skating sessions with the NHL regulars. He mentioned Kreider, Smith, Adam Fox and Jacob Trouba among the veterans he worked closely with.
One of those practices resulted in a puck to the jaw that shifted some teeth and left Berard wearing a full-face shield for the couple weeks of camp, but it's a price he'll happily pay if it helps him reach his end goal.
"If you're not there yet, just keep building," he said. "You only get one first impression, so if you ever get that call, you want to do the best you can, because you never know if there will be another one. That's kind of my mindset going into camp."
Matthew Robertson's last chance
The D corps at rookie camp is a bit thinner, with none of the invited prospects likely to push for a roster spot in the coming weeks.
Victor Mancini is a name to remember − a big, strong, righty shot who made a solid impression with Hartford last season and could eventually work his way into the seventh D conversation − but only one of the defensemen here was drafted higher than the fourth round.
That would be Matthew Robertson, a 2019 second-round pick who initially signed with high hopes but has yet to breakthrough across three full AHL seasons. He's clearly slipped in the organizational pecking order and didn't know what would come next once his entry-level contract expired over the summer.
"Honestly, I wasn't too sure," he said.
The Rangers decided to extend a qualifying offer, allowing Robertson at least one more season to turn his impressive physical skills into better on-ice production. His stagnation has become a source of frustration, with a group of older lefty-shot defensemen including Ben Harpur, Connor Mackey and Brandon Scanlin now standing in his way for AHL ice time. The clock is running out on the 23-year-old, but he's focused on avoiding the pitfalls of self-doubt.
"I really worked on the mental side of the game this summer," he said. "That was probably the biggest thing holding me back. ... Keep me confident and consistent each day. That's something I worked on this summer, and I'm looking forward to see how it pans out."
Dylan Garand biding his time
One prospect who's accepting of his long odds to make the roster is goalie Dylan Garand.
There's no chance of him surpassing starter Igor Shesterkin or accomplished backup Jonathan Quick on the depth chart, leaving the 2020 fourth-round pick to focus on his own development.
"I'm not afraid to say that," Garand said. "It's pretty set in stone. Those two are going to be here. Of course, I want to play in the NHL, but my time will come. ... I don't want to rush my way there. I want to make sure that I'm ready to go."
Consistency is the next step for the 22-year-old, who could be in line to replace Quick as Shesterkin's No. 2 by this time next year.
Of course, that will largely depend on how this season goes. Garand expressed disappointment with his regular-season numbers through two AHL seasons, during which he's posted a sub-.900 save percentage, but he's also opened eyes with back-to-back standout postseasons. Through 17 combined playoff appearances, the Victoria, British Columbia native has registered a .927 SV%.
"The playoffs, it's the best time of year," he said. "It's what you work for all year. It's the most fun. The atmosphere is great, whether you're at home or on the road. I'm a competitive guy. I love to win. When the game is on the line, I like to think that I step up a little bit."
Bryce McConnell-Barker turns pro
Among the handful of prospects who are set to turn pro this year, Bryce McConnell-Barker may top the list of names to keep an eye on.
The Rangers' prospect pool has been thin at center for years, with some considering the 2022 third-round pick most likely to make an eventual NHL impact. Expect him to slot into a top-nine role with Hartford this season. (Don't sleep on 2023 sixth-round pick Dylan Roobroeck, either, who also signed his entry-level contract this year. He's 6-foot-7, 205 pounds and has shown some offensive touch through two rookie practices.)
"It's a big jump from the OHL, where I'm coming from," McConnell-Barker said. "The guys are a lot older, faster, stronger, but I got a taste of it (during the AHL playoffs last season), and I think I'm ready for it. I had a big offseason and I'm looking to make a good impression on the staff."
The 20-year-old saw a dip in points with the Soo Greyhounds last season, dropping from 1.13 points per game to 0.98, but the team was much more successful. They went from 20 wins the year prior to 45, with McConnell-Barker playing key roles in all situations.
For a center without super high-end skill, that versatility and dependability will give him the best chance for success.
"Special teams, penalty killing, power play − you can get your minutes any way," he said. "Ultimately, when you go on the ice, I just want to give it 110% and earn all the ice I can get."
Rookie games vs. the Flyers
The Rangers' prospects will travel to PPL Center in Allentown, Pa. for a pair of scrimmages against the Philadelphia Flyers' rookies on Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 5 p.m.
If the last two practices were any indication, you can expect to see a top line of returning AHL forwards Berard, Ryder Korczak and Othmann, with Othmann notably skating at right wing. McConnell-Barker and Adam Sỳkora are poised to anchor the second line, where Maxim Barbashev and Kalle Väisänen have been rotating at RW. And the third line has featured a towering combo of the 6-foot-7 Edström, 6-foot-7 Roobroeck and 6-foot-4 Jaroslav Chmelař.
It's been striking to see the organizational emphasis on size show up at these practices. Of the 25 participants, 15 measured in at 6-foot-2 or taller and eight are 6-foot-4 or taller.
Vincent Z. Mercogliano is the New York Rangers beat reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Read more of his work at lohud.com/sports/rangers/ and follow him on Twitter @vzmercogliano .
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Early impressions from Rangers rookie camp: Berard, Edström, Othmann and many more
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