Rangers' Brennan Othmann draws into lineup vs. Flames with Matt Rempe injured
Rangers left wing Brennan Othmann sets before a face off against the Islanders during the first period of an NHL preseason game at UBS Arena on Sept. 29. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
CALGARY, Alberta — Timing is everything, they say, and for Matt Rempe, this was bad timing.
The Rangers forward suffered an upper-body injury in a fight with Ryan Reaves on Thursday night, and it cost him a chance to return to his hometown as the Blueshirts begin their longest road trip of the season against the Calgary Flames (1-7-1) on Sunday.
But Rempe’s misfortune isn’t just bad for him. It’s a blow for the team, too, coach Mike Sullivan said.
“It’s a tough loss,’’ he said after the Rangers’ practice Saturday afternoon at the Scotiabank Saddledome. “Remp’s a big part of this group. He just brings so much energy, so much passion to the rink every day, sticks up for his teammates . . . So it’s disappointing to not have him, but it’s going to provide opportunities for others.’’
One of those who will get an opportunity with Rempe out is Brennan Othmann, who was called up from AHL Hartford and made the trip. Othmann, the team’s first-round pick in 2021, not only failed to make the Rangers out of training camp but was sent down to Hartford earlier than expected.
“It’s definitely a little disappointing,’’ Othmann said of his demotion. “I wasn’t really expecting it, to be honest. But you kind of just take that and you still use that as motivation. I mean, you’re still a young player and still a player that has got some potential . . . I’m still happy with my game, I’m happy with where I’m at. And obviously there’s still more that I can do.’’
Sullivan said he’s had numerous conversations with Othmann about what the expectations are for him and “how we think he could potentially carve a role on this team.’’
“He has an offensive side to him,’’ Sullivan said. “I think that his opportunity is just in his attention to detail with respect to play away from the puck and just reliability and knowing your job and doing your job. And that’s an important element, I think, in making the jump from the American [Hockey] League to the National [Hockey] League. So he’s going to get an opportunity here and we’ll see where it goes.’’
Notes & quotes: Sullivan said Vincent Trocheck, who is on long-term injured reserve with an upper-body injury, is “not there yet.’’ Trocheck is eligible to come off LTIR for the Rangers’ home game against Carolina on Nov. 4, but Sullivan said he hasn’t skated yet and his “return to play isn’t imminent.’’
Colin Stephenson covers the Rangers for Newsday. He has spent more than two decades covering the NHL and just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
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