When the Rangers recalled Brennan Othmann yesterday, it was believed he was recalled to address the Rangers’ scoring problems. The thing is, Matt Rempe didn’t return for the Rangers’ 6-5 loss to San Jose after a fight with Ryan Reaves. There’s always a chance that Othmann will be recalled not to address the Rangers’ scoring issues, but to provide an extra body as the Rangers head west for the first time this season.
The Rangers’ scoring problems didn’t exactly start with Vincent Trocheck’s injury, but his injury forced Conor Sheary into the top six, a role he simply no longer fits into. Sheary is doing well. He has solid motor skills and work ethic. He’s just not a goalscorer anymore. With the Rangers starved of their offense, it makes perfect sense for the Rangers to recall Othmann and draft him in the top six.
However, Othmann did not have a strong camp and has already seen his name pop up in trade rumors. While nothing is concrete, these rumors have gotten to the point where we have a *rumours* asking price of “top AHL prospects.” How true those are remains to be seen, but it appears the Rangers want to see what they can get for a prospect who simply hasn’t put it all together yet.
Maybe this is all very justified PTSD from previous coaching regimes, but it feels like the Rangers’ scoring woes aren’t the reason Othmann was recalled. Instead, it really feels like a form of insurance for Rempe. Given the lack of information about his injury, he may have a longer term injury. This is exactly how the Rangers handle injury news, as mid-range injuries like Trocheck’s are never fully disclosed. This feels like a several-week injury for Rempe, which echoes Othmann’s memory.
If the Rangers fail to draft Othmann into the top six to replace Sheary, it will be a serious missed opportunity. The Rangers’ scoring problems won’t magically go away. They no longer have the skills. They need another player who can put the puck in the net, and as long as Othmann finds space, he could be a potential solution to the Rangers’ scoring woes. When he plays.
Mike Sullivan deserves the benefit of the doubt, if only because he’s only been here a month. New coaches deserve to show what their plans are, and not be subjected to knee-jerk reactions from a fan base that has been let down by so many previous coaches and front office personnel. Considering it was Othmann who was recalled and not someone like Justin Dowling or Anton Blidh, this suggests Othmann will make the top six to address the Rangers’ scoring problems.
We won’t know until we see practice lines, but this would be a significant missed opportunity to both increase Othmann’s trade value and address real issues with the club. It’s the right thing to do, not from a moral standpoint, but from a team needs standpoint.
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