Brett Berard ‘confident’ ahead of Rangers training camp

Barring injury or any trade, the New York Rangers won’t have many spots on their opening-night roster to battle for in training camp this fall. The additions of Reilly Smith and Sam Carrick, re-signing Kaapo Kakko and return to health of Filip Chytil have the Rangers pretty much set at the forward position.

There’ll be some competition for a spot on the fourth line and the 13th forward, though some combination of Matt Rempe, Jonny Brodzinski and Adam Edstrom will likely fill those two spots for the defending Presidents’ Trophy winners.

But that doesn’t mean Brett Berard won’t get a long look in camp nor that he won’t be trying earn a spot in the NHL with the Rangers.

The 21-year-old forward has already turned heads by scoring a team-high 25 goals as a rookie pro last season with the Hartford Wolf Pack. So, why not keep impressing until he gets a shot in the NHL.

“Maybe, maybe not,” Berard said with a smile when asked at Rangers prospects development camp if he surprised people last season. “I don’t really focus on that too much. For me, it’s just staying level-headed and trying to do what I do best. And, yeah, if they get surprised, they get surprised.”

Berard’s 25 goals were also second most among AHL rookies, one behind heralded Tucson forward Josh Doan and one more than Logan Stangkoven, who impressed at the end of last season by scoring 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in 24 games after being called up by the Dallas Stars. Berard’s 48 points were tied for fifth among all rookies.

The 5-foot-9 forward scored 18 goals in 2021-22 at Providence College but raised eyebrows with his production last season.

“I think I’m confident in myself as a player and it’s not really a goal of mine as a plyer to go in and lead the team in scoring, it’s go in and build on my game, and whatever happens, happens” Berard explained. “I was lucky enough to see the puck go in the net this year which was … it just builds confidence.”

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Rangers will take long look at Brett Berard in training camp

The Rangers selected Berard in the fifth round (No. 134 overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft and he turned heads with his pitbull drive playing for the United States in the 2021 and 2022 World Junior Championships. He helped the U.S. win gold at the 2021 tournament, finishing with five points (one goal, four assists) in seven games.

It’s his speed and all-around play that will likely land Berard a job in the NHL with the Rangers. He’s been diligent working on his defensive game, likely seeing a middle-six forward opportunity in the NHL one day.

“The big overall part of my game, I think, is the defensive side of the game,” Berard shared. “It’s always something I’m trying to get better at and I think this year I got better at it, started playing on the PK which was new for me but as the year went on it felt more and more comfortable.”

Berard won’t be the only youngster getting a long look in camp. Brennan Othmann, a first-round pick in 2021 who finished behind Berard last season with 21 goals for Hartford, will be given opportunities in the top nine.

But if the Rangers view Smith as the answer next to Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider, that likely removes Othmann and Berard from contention for an opening-night spot. Being the 13th forward doesn’t make any sense for either’s development, and there’s the likelihood the Rangers want size and thump on the fourth line, meaning Rempe and Edstrom have a leg up in that competition.

Making a positive impression in camp and then returning to Hartford for a second season and being a call away if needed by the Rangers certainly is not the worst scenario for either young forward, in particular Berard, who continues to surprise on his way up the organizational ladder.

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