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

[grentthealien]

Really strong Gold medal game last night, where is he expected to go in the draft? Think he might rise a bit after the U-18’s? I’m really interested in seeing just how much of an effect that tournament is going to have on scouts in this pandemic year.

 

[Dominance]

Really strong Gold medal game last night, where is he expected to go in the draft? Think he might rise a bit after the U-18’s? I’m really interested in seeing just how much of an effect that tournament is going to have on scouts in this pandemic year.

It was a sink or swim event for the OHL kids. Fortunately, pretty much all were very impressive within their respective roles.

 

[ORRFForever]

Think he might rise a bit after the U-18’s?

Yes.

I was worried Covid would hurt the Canadian prospects but people within the game seem to feel a year off would not hurt too much because, at that young age, talent rules the day - plus many played elsewhere.

I think every Canadian hockey fan find the air a little fresher after this tournament. Our shelves will be well stocked by 2025.

 

[newfy]

It was a sink or swim event for the OHL kids. Fortunately, pretty much all were very impressive within their respective roles.

I still dont think this tounrey is gonna move the needle a tonne for OHL guys. I think youll see a lot of them end up going a bit later than they should come draft time. Do you take a kid you scouted at 17 that looked good and kinda confirmed it with a short tounrey. Or take the guy in the Q or W thats similar but more games to evaluate? I think the higher picks like Clarke will be helped, I dont think a guy like Othmann moves up much from this.

He is a guy I hope the wings can get at their Washington pick depending where that is

 

[57special]

I think Othmann helped himself in terms of the draft. Looked big, fast, and skilled. Sort of a LH Alex Tuch. He actually looks better than a 17 yo Tuch to me, but Tuch developed late.

I can see Othmann going in the mid teens, but I can also see an argument for him being picked later because LW is usually the least valued position in drafts.

 

[Hinterland]

I still dont think this tounrey is gonna move the needle a tonne for OHL guys. I think youll see a lot of them end up going a bit later than they should come draft time. Do you take a kid you scouted at 17 that looked good and kinda confirmed it with a short tounrey. Or take the guy in the Q or W thats similar but more games to evaluate? I think the higher picks like Clarke will be helped, I dont think a guy like Othmann moves up much from this.

He is a guy I hope the wings can get at their Washington pick depending where that is

I'd give that a 0% chance. I still think 90% Dallas is gonna pick him and they currently sit 16th I believe. In any way, Othmann likely won't last until 20.

Also, Othmann was at his best in the final and semifinal. He also stepped up his game in the Swiss League playoffs after a rather disappointing 2nd half of the regular season. He proved that he can step up his game at the right time. That's something teams are looking for. Also, Othmann has a very high floor. No way he's gonna bust.

 

[newfy]

I'd give that a 0% chance. I still think 90% Dallas is gonna pick him and they currently sit 16th I believe. In any way, Othmann likely won't last until 20.

Also, Othmann was at his best in the final and semifinal. He also stepped up his game in the Swiss League playoffs after a rather disappointing 2nd half of the regular season. He proved that he can step up his game at the right time. That's something teams are looking for. Also, Othmann has a very high floor. No way he's gonna bust.

Youre right he might not be there depending when that pick is. But the caps pick isnt necessarily going to be super low.

But unless youre in on their draft meetings, its pretty ridiculous to state theres a 90% chance that a single team will draft him when were not talking a top 5 or so pick. I have a feeling youre only saying that because theres been some Brendan Morrow comparisons. Hes ranked 25 by Mackenzies latest rankings so saying hes got a 90% chance of being gone by 16 seems ridiculous to me

 

[Hinterland]

Youre right he might not be there depending when that pick is. But the caps pick isnt necessarily going to be super low.

But unless youre in on their draft meetings, its pretty ridiculous to state theres a 90% chance that a single team will draft him when were not talking a top 5 or so pick. I have a feeling youre only saying that because theres been some Brendan Morrow comparisons. Hes ranked 25 by Mackenzies latest rankings so saying hes got a 90% chance of being gone by 16 seems ridiculous to me

Not buying into Morrow comparisons.

I'm looking at the Flint connection and the players the Stars drafted lately. Of course it's possible that they're not looking to add any more of these players but I think they'll want as many as they can get.

 

[LastWordArmy]

With the OHL season continuously delayed and then never even starting Flint Firebirds forward and 2021 NHL Draft Prospect Brennan Othmann went to Switzerland. He was loaned to EHC Olten in the Swiss League. Playing against men in the second division of the Swiss League, Othmann put up seven goals and nine assists for 16 points in 34 games. He also added a goal and an assist in four playoff games. Following the conclusion of the Swiss season, Othmann joined Team Canada for the IIHF Under-20 World Championships. In seven tournament games, he scored three goals and three assists. Othmann came home from Texas with a gold medal.

The second overall pick in the 2019 OHL Draft, Othmann had a strong rookie season for the Firebirds in 2019-20. He scored 17 goals and 16 assists for 33 points in 55 games. Othmann was named to the OHL All-Rookie Team. He also played for Team Canada Black at the Under-17 World Hockey Challenge. Othmann scored three goals and three assists for six points in five tournament games. In 2019, he led the Don Mills Flyers to the OHL Cup with 14 points in seven games.

2021 NHL Draft #28 - Brennan Othmann Scouting Report

 

[bryan1966]

Really high on this kid! He has quality on and off the ice! Team that lands him will be extremely excited!
Wish he would fall to Habs but no way that will happen.

 

[Osakahaus]

Othmann is a player I want to see more of. We need more players who can actually annoy the opposition and actually play with a good edge. Feels like the day of an agitator who can score has been limited to like one or two players in the NHL now. He's also got decent size and that scoring clip is solid. I probably see him as a late 1st rounder or a mid 1st rounder.

 

[Hinterland]

Still calling Dallas. Hope I wasn't wrong all along

 

[Hinterland]

Still calling Dallas. Hope I wasn't wrong all along

Pick traded...so probably not

 

[MMC]

Welcome to New York

 

[threeVo]

welcome the newest untouchable in an Eichel trade

 

[Hinterland]

Pick traded...so probably not

Dallas lost him by trading the pick

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I don’t mind the player, but the pick made no sense, which means it makes exact sense for Chris Drury decision.

 

[CaptTennille]

Welcome to New York. Seems like NYR fans are selling his upside short. Looked like he had progressed quite a bit at the U20's. Excellent release and scoring touch.

 

[brakeyawself]

Welcome to New York. Seems like NYR fans are selling his upside short. Looked like he had progressed quite a bit at the U20's. Excellent release and scoring touch.

Not sure if they are selling his upside short so much as disappointed about the other players still available at the time. Including me. I really do think Othman is a great long term prospect, but don’t think he was the BPA. I really thought either of Lucius or Bolduc would have been the best pick there. With non Center options like Lysell, Cuelemans and Wallstedt, the latter who I think actually was the BPA even if there was no chance we take a goalie.

IF Drury finds a way to trade into the 2nd round to grab either RATY or Pinelli, who were both still there, I think it makes Othmann look like a much better pick.

And I really think they took Othmann with the long term look of being a possible Panarin replacement in 2026 season. I honestly don’t see us re-signing Panarin when his contract runs out. That would be around when Othmann would be becoming a RFA after entry deal.

POwer forwards usually take a bit longer to mature. And if he becomes a legit top 6 power forward, which are hard to find, it will have been a very good pick. I’d just rather have gotten better center than Grubbe and even Korczac. KORczac at least was a good value where they took him. Grubbe I think was taken a round too early. Vaisanen and Lamb could be sneaky good value picks too.

 

[brakeyawself]

welcome the newest untouchable in an Eichel trade

Eichel is the last thing the Rangers need at this point. Trading a heap of prospects for him, at what the Sabres are asking is a terrible idea. On top of his ridiculous contract.

I seriously doubt Eichel ends up a Ranger and would be very happy if he did not. I don’t get all the calls for him with so many questions and injury.

WE need a Toews type , not an Eichel type.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

I don’t mind the player, but the pick made no sense, which means it makes exact sense for Chris Drury decision.

Rangers need wingers as much as they need centers. If they are moving on from Kreider when his NMC expires (2024) you need players to replace him. Right now, we don't have those. Othmann, in 2-3 years, can be NHL ready and replace Kreider on the 3rd line.

This isn't as outrageous as some make it out to be. The only issue I would have had is if we picked a player who was a defenseman or a huge reach. Othmann was neither. He had an interesting development and his draft year is quite unique. I think that experience goes a long way and aside from Svechkov and maybe Lucius, I don't think there was anyone on the board I wanted more than Othmann.

 

[BPD]

I don’t mind the player, but the pick made no sense, which means it makes exact sense for Chris Drury decision.

Let's zoom out for a second and understand what the strategy is at this point.

1 - No center you're picking at 16 is jumping into the NHL this year or next. Look at Peyton Krebs - very, very talented, but it's taken him near 3 years to break into the VGK lineup in any way - and that's in spite of their general lack of center depth. You can't draft for immediate or short term need beyond the 5th overall or so.

2 - At this juncture, the Rangers have the hard stuff right. They have multiple high end puckmovers on D - including one in Fox who can be accurately described as elite. They have the high end talent sorted with Laf, Kakko, Panarin, Kravtsov. They need the roleplayers now - and mid-firsts are the place to get them.

3 - Othmann is a skillset we don't actually have on the wings. He's probably 6' 195 or so in the NHL, pesty, good shooter. He's a prototypical mid-six wing that's probably minimum 3 years off the big team right now. I target him as the guy who replaces Kreider in 2024 or so, and if he's 100% of what he can be and/or really embraces the Tkachuk gene he says he has, he'll earn his spot higher up the lineup pretty fast. Guys who can skate, shoot, hate, and agitate - they never make it to FA and they cost your hide in trades.

I like the pick a lot. He's probably a roleplayer on a first-wave cup contender and a key player on a second wave cup contender in the second half of the decade.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Let's zoom out for a second and understand what the strategy is at this point.

1 - No center you're picking at 16 is jumping into the NHL this year or next. Look at Peyton Krebs - very, very talented, but it's taken him near 3 years to break into the VGK lineup in any way - and that's in spite of their general lack of center depth. You can't draft for immediate or short term need beyond the 5th overall or so.

2 - At this juncture, the Rangers have the hard stuff right. They have multiple high end puckmovers on D - including one in Fox who can be accurately described as elite. They have the high end talent sorted with Laf, Kakko, Panarin, Kravtsov. They need the roleplayers now - and mid-firsts are the place to get them.

3 - Othmann is a skillset we don't actually have on the wings. He's probably 6' 195 or so in the NHL, pesty, good shooter. He's a prototypical mid-six wing that's probably minimum 3 years off the big team right now. I target him as the guy who replaces Kreider in 2024 or so, and if he's 100% of what he can be and/or really embraces the Tkachuk gene he says he has, he'll earn his spot higher up the lineup pretty fast. Guys who can skate, shoot, hate, and agitate - they never make it to FA and they cost your hide in trades.

I like the pick a lot. He's probably a roleplayer on a first-wave cup contender and a key player on a second wave cup contender in the second half of the decade.

I understand the philosophy, but I think it's the wrong one. I think you take the best players available, and I think that you lean towards the premium positions when drafting. Othmann wasn't some huge reach, so I won't give you a subjective list of names I would've preferred, as if it should matter. But it's obvious what the Rangers were going for. The guy that broke the Buch trade tweeted the Rangers wanted to draft Boucher. He doesn't get to our pick, so we draft one of the next grittiest players. If Boucher and Othmann both didn't get to our pick, are we drafting L'Heureux? Didn't we just draft Cuylle in the second round for grit last year in round 2?

The Rangers have only picked four guys from Europe the last two years, and 0 Russians. The Scouting Director was fired. The European Scouting, who is Russian, was Fired. Does it not seem like the Rangers are going in a very clear direction with the draft and the whole team that prioritizes grit, size, and more North American players? Drury is missing nearly a whole front office, so who is advising him right now? The direction we are seeing this team go seems like exactly the type of moves Slats and Dolan would demand. I'm not anti Othmann or grit or North American players, but I think the way Drury is running the team narrows avenues to success. The best way to build a successful team is to have the best players, and to not try to mold the team as narrowly as Drury is trying to do so. I criticize teams like the Isles or Habs for building their team the wrong way. I need to be consistent and criticize the Rangers when they start doing so.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

 

[Synergy27]

I understand the philosophy, but I think it's the wrong one. I think you take the best players available, and I think that you lean towards the premium positions when drafting. Othmann wasn't some huge reach, so I won't give you a subjective list of names I would've preferred, as if it should matter. But it's obvious what the Rangers were going for. The guy that broke the Buch trade tweeted the Rangers wanted to draft Boucher. He doesn't get to our pick, so we draft one of the next grittiest players. If Boucher and Othmann both didn't get to our pick, are we drafting L'Heureux? Didn't we just draft Cuylle in the second round for grit last year in round 2?

The Rangers have only picked four guys from Europe the last two years, and 0 Russians. The Scouting Director was fired. The European Scouting, who is Russian, was Fired. Does it not seem like the Rangers are going in a very clear direction with the draft and the whole team that prioritizes grit, size, and more North American players? Drury is missing nearly a whole front office, so who is advising him right now? The direction we are seeing this team go seems like exactly the type of moves Slats and Dolan would demand. I'm not anti Othmann or grit or North American players, but I think the way Drury is running the team narrows avenues to success. The best way to build a successful team is to have the best players, and to not try to mold the team as narrowly as Drury is trying to do so. I criticize teams like the Isles or Habs for building their team the wrong way. I need to be consistent and criticize the Rangers when they start doing so.

I get your point, but it’s too early to assess the Drury regime at this point. Given the Rangers current and near future roster construction, it is totally rational to prioritize NA talent in a draft like this. A large portion of the team’s best current players are Euro or play a Euro style game (Zibanejad, Panarin, Kravtsov, Kakko, Shesterkin - I put Strome in this category too).

I wanted Svechkov with this pick, and Kirsanov later, but I can’t really argue with the philosophy right now. It makes sense.