Brennan Othmann didn’t have to think twice when asked how he wanted his next season to look.
The left wing is confident and hopeful his fourth Rangers prospect camp this week will be his last.
And if he can silence his doubters along the way to an NHL roster spot, it would be even sweeter.
“My biggest goal is to prove people wrong, to be honest with you,” Othmann said on Tuesday at the first on-ice practice of the three-day camp at the team’s Tarrytown practice facility. “I think that a lot of people this past year or whatever, have kind of lost a little bit of faith and belief in my capabilities. So, I think I’m just ready to prove people wrong, and I’m gonna keep doing that. I’m excited to do that.”
Those “people” the 21-year-old Canadian referred to are the doubters online he tries to avoid by staying off social media.
“I think I’ve proved myself as a player with my capabilities and I want to keep proving myself and I’ve established that I can win hockey games. I have two World Juniors [titles], an OHL Championship, and U-18s so I think I’m a winner and I want to bring that culture here as best I can.
“I don’t want to sound arrogant by any means, but I’m just confident in myself and I’m looking forward to coming here in September.”
The hunger in the 2021 first-round draft pick (16th overall) isn’t unwarranted.
Nor does it sound arrogant to the Rangers, who have also played a role in growing that confidence, lending signs and opportunities to Othmann to validate their faith in his potential to play at the NHL level long term.
The Rangers gave him a three-game shot in January for his NHL debut during the middle of his first season with the AHL Wolf Pack.
In 67 games in Hartford, he was second on the team and fourth among AHL rookies with 49 points.
Called up to replace an injured Tyler Pitlick, Othmann tried to impress with his strong shot and play-making skills, and said he greatly improved his work in the defensive zone.
Now, he’s focusing on developing in the gym.
Othmann was asked by GM Chris Drury and the development staff to come to the prospect camp to play a leadership role.
“He’s a young kid with a lot of talent and we’re excited that we get a chance to work with him. I think it’s a good experience for all these guys,” Rangers director of player development Jed Ortmeyer said. “It’s great for them to take that home in the summer and really use that as motivation for the season.”
In the first practice of prospect camp the leadership was evident, but his chemistry with right wing prospect Gabe Perreault may have been even more so, and it served as a bright sign for what the organization’s future could look like.
Othmann and Perreault, the Rangers’ 2023 first-round draft pick (23rd overall), were chatting and laughing while paired up in various drills.
While the two have never been on the same team, they maintained a connection since last year’s prospect camp.
“It’s obviously fun. He’s obviously got a really good shot,” said Perreault, who plans to return to Boston College for his sophomore season. “Fun kid to be around, always laughing and having fun. So, it’s always fun to see your chemistry with guys like that. I’m looking forward to keep going with him, hopefully one day.”
Said Othmann of the connection with Perrault, “I think with his playmaking ability and with my shot and kind of find open space, I think that’d be a pretty good duo. He wants to win, I want to win. We both want to be here. So, I think we’re helping each other out by both being here and pushing each other.”
