Why top 2 New York Rangers prospects not in line to help in NHL, at least not yet
Watching Gabe Perreault dominate for the United States in their 2025 World Junior Championship opener against Germany on Thursday had to be exciting for the New York Rangers. Their top prospect is among the best players in the international tournament, a favorite among many experts to be named MVP when all is said and done.
So, it’s not a reach to believe the Rangers — and certainly their fans — have visions of Perreault bringing his scintillating offensive skills to Broadway and help lift the Blueshirts out of their doldrums.
That very well could happen. But not for a few months at least. After the 19-year-old, who had two goals and one assist Thursday, tries to lead the U.S. to a second straight WJC championship, he’ll return to Boston College, shooting for the NCAA title.
Once BC’s season is over, Perreault could sign his entry-level contract and be an option for the Rangers. Of course, by that point this Rangers season could be all but done if they continue in their downward spiral. Or they could’ve turned things around, perhaps by adding a top-six stud to the mix, lessening the need to rush the teenager into the NHL.
The bottom line is the Rangers need immediate help to pull out of their current 4-13-0 stretch that’s dropped them into a last-place tie in the Metropolitan Division. And Perreault’s not available to be part of the solution just yet, no matter how much he dazzles at the WJC.
And the thing is, there’s no other prospect ready to offer immediate help because Brennan Othmann has already missed more than two months with an upper-body injury. There’s hope that the 2021 first-round pick will resume playing soon with Hartford of the American Hockey League. That would set him up to be in line to help the Rangers before Perreault could even be considered.
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Neither Gabe Perreault, Brennan Othmann offers Rangers immediate answers to issues
Photo courtesy Hartford Wolf Pack
Had Othmann not been injured in Hartford’s fourth game of the season, there’s little doubt that he would’ve been recalled by now. The 21-year-old, who scored 21 goals with Hartford as a rookie pro last season and had five points (two goals, three assists) in the first three games this season, most assuredly would have seen at least some top-six minutes, and at least would be a third-line fixture now, especially following the trade of Kaapo Kakko.
With Othmann hurt, Brett Berard got the call up and the 22-year-old forward has injected speed, enthusiasm and a non-stop motor to the Rangers lineup. In 12 games, Berard has two goals and one assist, playing up and down the entire lineup. Currently, he’s slotting in with Filip Chytil and Will Cuylle on the third line.
While Berard is a nice player, a sparkplug with offensive skill, he’s likely a middle-six forward, not a real game changer. Perreault and Othmann offer higher upsides. There’s a reason each was a first-round pick by the Rangers.
When healthy, Othmann brings size (6-foot, 195 pounds), strength and some attitude. He’s solid on the power play and a net-front presence at all times, with the ability to snipe off the rush, too.
Perreault is smaller (5-foot-11, 165 pounds) and not nearly as physical as Othmann. But he thinks the game at an elite level and has a more-complete offensive package, particularly as a playmaker. Perreault is tied for fourth in the nation with 23 points (seven goals, 16 assists) in 16 games, a 1.44 points-per-game pace. He had 60 points (19 goals, 41 assists) in 36 games as a freshman last year, plus 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in seven WJC games.
Yet, dreaming on Perreault and Othmann won’t do the Rangers much good in immediate sense. And a look at the Hartford roster doesn’t reveal any prospects ready to make an NHL impact any time soon now that Berard is already up with the Rangers and not counting the injured Othmann.
The other side to this is that the Rangers would prefer to add Othmann and/or Perreault at some point as complementary pieces to a solid roster, not as saviors for an underachieving one. But they may not have much choice if the 2024-25 malaise continues to engulf the Rangers lineup.
Time will tell if Perreault and Othmann are long-term answers. But we do know, neither is available just yet to help in the short term.
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