The writing isn’t just on the wall anymore, it’s obvious to anyone who is barely even paying attention. Brennan Othmann is likely done in New York. His most recent recall lasted a week, with the Rangers playing three games. In those three games, the Rangers went 2-0-1 with both Conor Sheary and Taylor Raddysh playing every night. Othmann did not play at all. Sheary wound up playing in the top six, rotating with Jonny Brodzinski, while Raddysh played a bottom six role. Othmann never dressed, even with Adam Edstrom out.
Playing time due to an injury recall doesn’t tell a whole story. But it does mean more when Jaroslav Chmelar, recalled over the weekend with Othmann being reassigned to make space, got game action immediately following his recall. This speaks volumes.
Chmelar, recalled twice thus far by the Rangers, has played three games with the Rangers this season. Othmann, also recalled twice by the Rangers, has played in just one game. Chmelar has replaced Othmann as the prospect recall in both instances. Once is coincidence. Twice is pattern.
As a reminder, this comes on top of a bad preseason and training camp that led Othmann to be one of the first “true cuts” from camp.
Objectively, Chmelar is having a better season than Othmann. Aside from the 3-1 NHL games advantage, Chmelar is also putting up better offensive numbers in the AHL. Chmelar carries a line of 3-8-11 in 19 games, while Othmann has just 2-6-8 in 16 games. It’s not much of a difference, but there has been nothing in Othmann’s game in the AHL that suggests he would catch Chmelar if both played out the rest of the season with Hartford.
This isn’t about roles either, as there was a top-six wing spot available. Othmann simply did not play himself into that position. Many like to complain that Conor Sheary is taking a prospect’s spot in the top six, but Mike Sullivan has shown a willingness to put kids in that role already. Gabe Perreault, for example, played in the top-six during his recall. Othmann did as well. Othmann just hasn’t outplayed Sheary to get that top-six spot during his recalls. So Sheary takes that spot for now, while opening up a 4L spot for Chmelar.
All this leads to the likely scenario that Othmann is done in New York. We can complain all we want about playing time, opportunities, etc, but Othmann isn’t playing well enough in Hartford to earn these recalls, let alone at the NHL level. After 26 NHL games, the experiment seems to have come to an end.
Already the subject of trade rumors, expect Othmann to be moved before the season is done. Unfortunately, he has minimal, if any, true trade value anymore. Chris Drury waited too long to move him, if the rumors are to be believed. Lesson learned, perhaps?
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