Brett Berard looking to make mark with Rangers after breakout first season in AHL

Brett Berard kept coming back to the same answer.

Through a breakout first full season as a pro, it’s where Berard most noticed his growth as a player.

“I think confidence is a big thing I try to work on,” Berard said Wednesday after the Rangers’ third day of prospect development camp . “That’s something that everybody should try to work on. … Having my first full year as a pro, this is my third [player development] camp now, coming here you definitely feel more comfortable with the staff, the players. It’s a lot of fun.”

A fifth-round pick in 2020 (No. 134), the 21-year-old is knocking on the door to make the Rangers’ roster next year after shining with AHL Hartford last season.

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He led the Wolf Pack in scoring with 25 goals and added 23 assists to finish with 48 points — tied for third-highest on the team.

After playing three seasons at Providence, it was his first real action with the organization, other than playing in three games with Hartford the year prior.

Coupled with the fact the Rangers have let forwards Barclay Goodrow, Jack Roslovic and Alex Wennberg leave in free agency and have just brought in Reilly Smith and Sam Carrick, Berard has a real shot.

“He put in a ton of work [last] summer,” Jed Ortmeyer, the Rangers’ director of player development, said Tuesday. “He got a taste the year before, coming into Hartford and understanding what it was gonna be like. It really motivated him in the summer, and he came prepared for camp. He had a great season, and we’re looking forward to continuing to work with him and see how he can do.”

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A speedster listed at 5-foot-9 and 174 pounds, the physicality of the pro level was an adjustment for Berard.

But again, he returned to his favorite answer.

“It was a lot different than college, obviously,” Berard said. “We played 84, 85 games; in college, I think the most I played was 36, so that was a big change. … There were some physical challenges, but I think that comes back to confidence, too. If you’re able to work through that, you set yourself up.”

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A low draft pick, Berard’s emergence and dominance last year at Hartford was somewhat unexpected.

Berard, once more, knew exactly what to credit.

“I would say a little bit of surprise, but not really at the same time. I think I’m confident in myself as a player,” Berard said. “It’s not really a goal of mine to go in and lead the team in scoring,” Berard said. “It’s to go in and just build upon my game, and then whatever happens, happens. I was lucky enough to see the puck go in the net. Going back to confidence again, it just helps build confidence.”

Berard made it abundantly clear: He’s confident.

And despite other Rangers prospects being more heralded or arriving to the team as higher draft picks, Berard is playing as well, or better, than any of them.

“It’s honestly a dream come true,” Berard said. “For me, it’s just staying level-headed and trying to do what I do best. If [outsiders] get surprised, they get surprised.”

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