Brennan Othmann was scratched from the New York Rangers lineup for Tuesday's 3-1 defeat to the Calgary Flames.
The rookie has yet to register an NHL point with 14 career games under his belt despite having had a knack for finding the net throughout his career in juniors and the AHL.
“For me, I hold myself to a high standard and I’m just disappointed in myself that I haven’t been able to produce much,” Othmann said to Mollie Walker of the New York Post following Tuesday's practice.
The 22-year-old skill forward is projected to produce top-six forward output, but since having been called up on Feb. 25, he's primarily played on the fourth line alongside Matt Rempe, a 6-foot-9 enforcer and Jonny Brodzinski, an industrious role player.
“At the end of the day, that’s not really what it’s about right now," Othmann said. "It’s about just building Lavi’s trust, and building the coaching staff’s trust. Being in the lineup every day and trying to be in the lineup every day. Once that happens and once you kind of establish that you’re there every day, then you can worry about scoring and all that stuff. At this point, I just kind of want to worry about playing. Just getting around the net more, having more confidence with the puck. I think that’s just my biggest thing."
“What I want to be doing more is having the puck on my stick more and being more confident with it. I know when I have the puck, I make good plays with it and I find the open lanes and open guys and get the puck to the net. But I think just having the puck on my stick more and being a little more patient with it.”
The bottom-six forward group has been shuffled frequently as the Rangers chase a playoff spot. The Rangers carried out an abysmal offensive display with Othmann in street clothes, getting outshot 35-13 by the Flames.
