LW Brennan Othmann - Hartford Wolfpack, HL (2021, 16th, NYR)

[GAGLine]

The CHL, AHL and NHL need to work out a deal that allows each NHL team to assign one (or 2-3?) underage player to the AHL, presumably it would be used for guys like Othmann who blow away the CHL but aren't ready for the NHL.

Why would the CHL agree to that? There aren't that many players each year that are considered too good for the CHL and not good enough for the NHL, and it's extremely rare that any team would have 2 or more in a given year. If each team were given 1 exception, they might as well through out the rule entirely. But the CHL won't agree to that because those players help sell tickets, and help those teams compete.

The only way I could see it working is if there was a transfer fee added. The NHL team would pay the CHL team to get the player out early. It could be a set price based on draft position, or a negotiated amount, but in either case the CHL team has the right to refuse.

 

[ecemleafs]

Why would the CHL agree to that? There aren't that many players each year that are considered too good for the CHL and not good enough for the NHL, and it's extremely rare that any team would have 2 or more in a given year. If each team were given 1 exception, they might as well through out the rule entirely. But the CHL won't agree to that because those players help sell tickets, and help those teams compete.

The only way I could see it working is if there was a transfer fee added. The NHL team would pay the CHL team to get the player out early. It could be a set price based on draft position, or a negotiated amount, but in either case the CHL team has the right to refuse.

is it not the nhl is throwing the chl a bone here? i mean the chl is a junior league. if a player signs a pro contract they should be able to play in a pro league if they wish to do so.

 

[GAGLine]

is it not the nhl is throwing the chl a bone here? i mean the chl is a junior league. if a player signs a pro contract they should be able to play in a pro league if they wish to do so.

I suppose the NHL could tear up the agreement in the next CBA, regardless of what the CHL wants, but I just don't see that happening. The NHL honors the contracts of other leagues.

 

[brakeyawself]

I still think he can work on more aspects of his game and continue to get bigger and stronger next season. We also have 2 other wingers (maybe 3 if Kravstov comes) that we need to also focus on continuing to develop next season. Think it just makes more sense to let him cook in Juniors a bit longer.

I agree to an extent. But if Othmann is ready by the beginning of next season, I don't think you hold him back. It's not like Laf or Kakko have really started shining yet. If they don't show immense improvement by next season, it's going to get worrisome. I do think they need more time, but Othmann could be a contributor right away. Kravtsov, well, I still like him a lot. But I do think the Rangers will eventually move him. Which is unfortunate. We could have certainly used him this season I think. Either way though, if Othmann is ready, then he should make the team. At who's expense? That's going to be a tough one. I would not be at all shocked if Krav gets traded. I don't think Laf or Kakko will get moved next season, but it's not completely out of the realm of possibility if a good high end young center is the return. Or a high end 2C in general. As good as the team is performing now, I think we still need an upgrade over Strome. Chytil I feel is destined to eventually move elsewhere. I mean right now Vatrano is playing on the top like with Zibs and Kreider..... Copp is a good addition. Blais will be back so I think Hunt doesn't have a full time role. Goodrow has to stick around. Rooney I'm guessing will. Anyway, there's room for Othmann I think. Unless Kravtsov does end up staying, which will make things interesting. I just don't see it happening with his history with Drury.

 

[Artorius Horus T]

Kakko will stay, Othmann will take his spot from the get go next season,
Lafreniere will get traded, or sent to the AHL for majority of the season.
- or Lafreniere will do Hughes; seriously work on his game during the off season

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

Kakko will stay, Othmann will take his spot from the get go next season,
Lafreniere will get traded, or sent to the AHL for majority of the season.
- or Lafreniere will do Hughes; seriously work on his game during the off season

If that happens you know that Drury is a Fletcher/Bergevin level GM. Othmann was not a first or second pick. He should be in the AHL no matter how good he looks.

 

[GAGLine]

Kakko will stay, Othmann will take his spot from the get go next season,
Lafreniere will get traded, or sent to the AHL for majority of the season.
- or Lafreniere will do Hughes; seriously work on his game during the off season

Neither of those things will happen.

Strome will be gone next season, with Copp likely to replace him. Maybe one of Kakko or Laf cracks PP1 next year.

 

[FireBird71]

4 goals tonight and 50 on the season

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Congrats!!!!!!! Wow!!

 

[RangerBoy]

 

[Artorius Horus T]

His year spent in Switzerland did wonders to his game.
- i think more NA's under 18, 20, should go play pro hockey in Europe

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

So what changed/clicked for this kid this season? His production and scoring touch is so impressive. Did an improvement in his skating help unlock his ability to find holes or has his release improved that much?

Playing pro hockey last season definitely helped. It was a great experience for him and in his own words, taught him things and nuances about hockey that aren't really the focus in juniors.

I think it's also a mental development, living overseas for a year. He struggled off the ice a bit with the language but on the ice, Othmann was very comfortable in the Swiss League. In 50+ years of Swiss League hockey, only 2 North Americans played in that league pre-draft and combined for just 3 games played. It was uncharted territory.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

His year spent in Switzerland did wonders to his game.
- i think more NA's under 18, 20, should go play pro hockey in Europe

The only way he was able to, was due to the OHL season being cancelled. Once players commit to major juniors, they're ineligible to play in Europe until they are 20 with the exception of a loan/contract termination.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Crushing it this round, 3G, 4A in 2 games.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Othmann with the big OT winner tonight to put his team up 3-1.

9 points in 4 games this series (4g / 5a)

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

OT winner. 8+6=14 points in 11 playoff games.

 

[Artorius Horus T]

What a season it has been for the Firebirds
what a great thing for the city of Flint, Michigan,
that city has suffered so much in recent years.
- Conference finals

Othmann leading their play-off success.

 

[Artorius Horus T]

Othman now 23 points in the play-offs and Flint 1 game away from Robertson Cup finals....crazy.

Othmann with 59 goals and 130 points so far this season, Rangers struck gold with this pick!

 

[JiggsNY]

Praying we can have a rookie step in and contribute right away next year. Have PTSD from all the headaches with Laf, Kakko, Kravtsov, Chtyil.

 

[Gstank]

Praying we can have a rookie step in and contribute right away next year. Have PTSD from all the headaches with Laf, Kakko, Kravtsov, Chtyil.

I mean you have rushed rookies 4 times why would the 5th time be any different? law of averages says its going to be the same result

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I mean you have rushed rookies 4 times why would the 5th time be any different? law of averages says its going to be the same result

Kravtsov was only rushed in the sense that he should've stayed over in Russia for a few years before coming to NA. He wanted to sign his ELC because he thought he'd make the NHL team. The front office should've told him that wasn't going to happen, but if a player is so set on doing something that he had a very small chance of accomplishing it's hard to blame the team. At no point has Kravtsov actually made the NHL team out of camp, so it's hard to say they rushed him to the NHL. He only has 20 games that came towards the end of the 20-21 COVID season.

Lafreniere was not rushed. He looked like an NHL'er his first year. We just didn't have a big role available for him, which is why stat-watchers will claim he was rushed. Thats what happens when you play for a good team. You can't always afford to give your top picks 20 minutes per game and PP1 right away. I'm hoping he eventually is given a bigger role because as anyone should be able to see from late on in the season and the playoffs he's a more effective forward currently than Vatrano and Strome.

Chytil wasn't rushed either. He got 9 games that first season, and when he wasn't ready, he was sent to the AHL. Isn't that the epitome of not rushing a player is to send them back when they aren't ready? I don't know what the basis is for saying Chytil would've developed better somewhere else. He's not done too bad. Like Lafreneiere he has been given a small role, which hasn't always suited his game. Last season he was great. This season, he's had awful puck luck, although it's started to normalize later on in the season and the playoffs. You can't expect someone who is 3rd line and sometimes PP2 and sometimes not PP2 to score 45-50 points. Like Lafreniere, this is what happens when you are a first round pick on a team with good players ahead of you. Chytil is only 22. Plenty of time for him to be a big scorer. For now, he's a 3rd liner on a very good team.

Kakko might've been rushed. That one I will agree with you. His first year he should've been in the AHL. It was obvious very early on in that season that he shouldn't have been in the AHL. It would've been easy to send him to the AHL, but they didn't. It is a little hard though to send the 2OA elsewhere. It's a lot easier when the player makes the decision for you and plays college hockey or doesn't sign their ELC right away. That makes the decision for you. There haven't been very many 2OA's over the years where the team signed the 2OA right away and had them playing somewhere other than the NHL.

 

[Hinterland]

Kravtsov was only rushed in the sense that he should've stayed over in Russia for a few years before coming to NA. He wanted to sign his ELC because he thought he'd make the NHL team. The front office should've told him that wasn't going to happen, but if a player is so set on doing something that he had a very small chance of accomplishing it's hard to blame the team. At no point has Kravtsov actually made the NHL team out of camp, so it's hard to say they rushed him to the NHL. He only has 20 games that came towards the end of the 20-21 COVID season.

Lafreniere was not rushed. He looked like an NHL'er his first year. We just didn't have a big role available for him, which is why stat-watchers will claim he was rushed. Thats what happens when you play for a good team. You can't always afford to give your top picks 20 minutes per game and PP1 right away. I'm hoping he eventually is given a bigger role because as anyone should be able to see from late on in the season and the playoffs he's a more effective forward currently than Vatrano and Strome.

Chytil wasn't rushed either. He got 9 games that first season, and when he wasn't ready, he was sent to the AHL. Isn't that the epitome of not rushing a player is to send them back when they aren't ready? I don't know what the basis is for saying Chytil would've developed better somewhere else. He's not done too bad. Like Lafreneiere he has been given a small role, which hasn't always suited his game. Last season he was great. This season, he's had awful puck luck, although it's started to normalize later on in the season and the playoffs. You can't expect someone who is 3rd line and sometimes PP2 and sometimes not PP2 to score 45-50 points. Like Lafreniere, this is what happens when you are a first round pick on a team with good players ahead of you. Chytil is only 22. Plenty of time for him to be a big scorer. For now, he's a 3rd liner on a very good team.

Kakko might've been rushed. That one I will agree with you. His first year he should've been in the AHL. It was obvious very early on in that season that he shouldn't have been in the AHL. It would've been easy to send him to the AHL, but they didn't. It is a little hard though to send the 2OA elsewhere. It's a lot easier when the player makes the decision for you and plays college hockey or doesn't sign their ELC right away. That makes the decision for you. There haven't been very many 2OA's over the years where the team signed the 2OA right away and had them playing somewhere other than the NHL.

Laf clearly looks like a different player this season compared to last. It's not a matter of ice time which was identical. He just wasn't physically ready. Laf definitely did get rushed and it's possible this year is gonna impact his offensive output. The was no need or reason for the Rangers to do this.

Whether Othmann is a similar case or not...I don't know. I always said that he's gonna be a project who's gonna take time but could eventually become one of the top players of his draft. On the other side, he clearly doesn't have anything left to learn in the OHL. There really should be a 3rd option available for players like Othmann because I really don't know if he's truely NHL ready or not.

 

[Kcb12345]

Praying we can have a rookie step in and contribute right away next year. Have PTSD from all the headaches with Laf, Kakko, Kravtsov, Chtyil.

From an neutral fan perspective, Will Cuylle could probably step in and make an impact. NHL size, skating, shot, etc.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Laf clearly looks like a different player this season compared to last. It's not a matter of ice time which was identical. He just wasn't physically ready. Laf definitely did get rushed and it's possible this year is gonna impact his offensive output. The was no need or reason for the Rangers to do this.

Whether Othmann is a similar case or not...I don't know. I always said that he's gonna be a project who's gonna take time but could eventually become one of the top players of his draft. On the other side, he clearly doesn't have anything left to learn in the OHL. There really should be a 3rd option available for players like Othmann because I really don't know if he's truely NHL ready or not.

Lafreniere really doesn’t look that different. He’s improved, but it’s not by that much. You are right there’s no real ice time difference, which makes it hard for more than marginal statistical improvements. It’s not going to show up that much on the scoresheet until he gets better ice time.