3 young Rangers who could provide spark during 2024-25 NHL season

With not much cap space to work with, general manager Chris Drury and the Rangers weren’t able to make many high-profile moves as they look to take the next step as a contender heading into this season. 

They did add veteran winger Reilly Smith in a deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and he brings some valuable postseason experience, and figures to begin the year alongside Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider on the top line. 

Other than that though, New York made less notable depth additions in free agency, leaving some potential openings in their starting lineup when training camp officially kicks off in just a few weeks. 

The Rangers do have some young and hungry talent waiting in the wings for the chance to show what they can do at the pro level, and they should have some opportunities in camp and preseason action. 

Here are three of those prospects to keep an eye on this season…

LW/RW Brennan Othmann

Othmann is coming off a relatively strong first pro campaign down in the AHL with the Hartford Wolfpack in which he finished second on the team in goals (21), third in points (49), and fourth in assists (28).

The youngster received a three-game cup of coffee with the Blueshirts midseason as well, and he certainly looked the part on both ends of the ice, blocking a shot while also recording six shots on goal and six hits. 

Othmann tried to stay off social media as much as he could, but he still heard the doubters at times throughout the campaign, and that’s exactly why he has one goal in mind heading into training camp this season. 

“I want to play for the fans, I want to play for the city,” he said at prospect development camp. “I was here watching the playoffs, and it’s just an unbelievable atmosphere. Who wouldn’t want to play here, right? To make the team, that’s my goal this summer and moving forward.”

Othmann’s shoot-first mentality, physical play, and goal-scoring prowess could all make him a fit alongside Zibanejad and Kreider on the top line if head coach Peter Laviolette were to give him the opportunity. 

While he is likely a longshot when it comes to cracking the opening night roster, he just might be able to earn himself a role to start the season if he can get off to a roaring start in camp and preseason action.

LW Brett Berard

Berard is someone else who figures to begin the year back down in the minors, but he certainly made a strong push to make his NHL debut with his breakout showing with the Wolf Pack last season. 

The youngster was very solid during his days at Providence, but he took his game to another level during his first pro campaign, leading Hartford and finishing second among AHL rookies with 25 goals on the year.

He also contributed 23 assists to raise his point total to 48 for the season, which was good enough for the fifth most among AHL rookies, and added six more points across the team’s 10 postseason games. 

“I’m confident in myself,” Berard said at prospect development camp. “It’s not really a goal of mine to lead the team in scoring, it’s to go in and just build upon my game, and then whatever happens, happens.”

Berard is a bit undersized, but that doesn’t stop him from playing a relentless and feisty game on both ends of the ice.

He grew tremendously as a player both on and off the ice last season, and if he’s able to keep that up heading into training camp and the regular season, you just might see his name in the Blueshirts’ lineup before you know it. 

D Brandon Scanlin

The Rangers signed Scanlin as a college free agent after he accumulated a total of 62 points over his three successful seasons at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. 

He had been serving on the blueline for the Wolf Pack since then, but with numerous defensemen battling injuries down the stretch last season, he was recalled to make his NHL debut. 

Scanlin didn’t record a point, but he jumped right into the thick of things, logging 10:46 of ice time to help the Blueshirts pull out a massive two points in a 6-5 overtime win over the Philadelphia Flyers. 

That was the only game he appeared in before being sent back down, but the 25-year-old finished the year strong, scoring eight times which was the most on the Wolf Pack amongst defensemen. 

Veteran Chad Ruhwedel figures to begin the year with the Rangers after re-signing on a two-way contract, but if he struggles, they do have the option to send him down to give someone like Scanlin an extended look. 

The youngster certainly has earned it and he could provide a nice spark on the backend.