Brennan Othmann will be sidelined for at least one month due to an upper-body injury. The promising New York Rangers prospect is expected to be out for 4-6 weeks following an injury sustained over a week ago while playing for the Hartford Wolf Pack in the American Hockey League.
The 21-year-old forward, who participated in six preseason games with the Rangers but was among those cut during training camp, had a strong start to the 2024-25 season with five points (two goals, three assists) in three games for the Wolf Pack. Last season, as a rookie, he scored 21 goals, ranking second on the team.
Despite Othmann’s absence, Brett Berard and Benoit-Oliver Groulx are leading the Wolf Pack’s offense, each tied for the team lead with eight points. Both players contributed two points in a 4-3 overtime victory against Lehigh Valley on Friday, with Berard leading the team in goals and tied for fifth in the AHL with five. Groulx has four goals and four assists.
Hartford earned two points this weekend by beating Lehigh Valley but then faced their first home loss of the season on Sunday, losing 5-2 to Springfield.
Recently assigned to Hartford before last weekend and recalled by the Rangers on Monday, Rempe played in two games with the Wolf Pack. The physical forward centered the second line alongside Adam Erne and Jaroslav Chmelar. Coach Grant Potulny employed Rempe in various situations, including power plays and penalty kills, where he played over 16 minutes in Friday’s win and had substantial ice time on Sunday.
Although Rempe did not score and was minus-3 in two games, he focused on essential game aspects, such as winning face-offs and positioning himself in front of the opposing goalie to disrupt their view and deflect shots. He also sought rebounds, leveraging his strength to crash the crease. His play on the penalty kill was effective, as he obstructed passing lanes and kept his game simple. The Rangers aim for him to gain experience and stay sharp before returning to New York, where he has only played two games this season.
Defensively, the Wolf Pack continue to face challenges. They have allowed four or more goals in five out of six games. There was some improvement in Friday’s win, where they allowed three goals, but those issues resurfaced on Sunday with a season-high five goals against. Currently sitting at 3-2-0-1, the team’s ongoing defensive struggles could become a long-term concern.
Potulny acknowledged that maintaining this trend is unsustainable, emphasizing the need for defensive improvements with tougher games ahead. This week’s matches will test the team’s defensive response.
There hasn’t been significant change in the defensive pairings, but adjustments may be necessary. The defensive unit has experience, and Potulny needs to establish the right chemistry among them, potentially bolstered by the addition of veteran Chad Ruhwedel. Additionally, goalies Louis Domingue (1-2-1, 4.19 GAA, .873 SV%) and Dylan Garand (2-0, 3.45 GAA, .889 SV%) have struggled and will need to elevate their performances, particularly given the lack of defensive support early in the season.
