Barring injury or any trade, the New York Rangers won’t have many spots on their opening-night roster to battle for in training camp this fall. The additions of Reilly Smith and Sam Carrick, re-signing Kaapo Kakko and return to health of Filip Chytil have the Rangers pretty much set at the forward position.
There’ll be some competition for a spot on the fourth line and the 13th forward, though some combination of Matt Rempe, Jonny Brodzinski and Adam Edstrom will likely fill those two spots for the defending Presidents’ Trophy winners. But that doesn’t mean Brett Berard won’t get a long look in camp nor that he won’t be trying earn a spot in the NHL with the Rangers.
The 21-year-old forward has already turned heads by scoring a team-high 25 goals as a rookie pro last season with the Hartford Wolf Pack. So, why not keep impressing until he gets a shot in the NHL.
“Maybe, maybe not,” Berard said with a smile when asked at Rangers prospects development camp if he surprised people last season. “I don’t really focus on that too much. For me, it’s just staying level-headed and trying to do what I do best. And, yeah, if they get surprised, they get surprised.”
The 5-foot-9 forward scored 18 goals in 2021-22 at Providence College but raised eyebrows with his production last season.
“I think I’m confident in myself as a player and it’s not really a goal of mine as a plyer to go in and lead the team in scoring, it’s go in and build on my game, and whatever happens, happens” Berard explained. “I was lucky enough to see the puck go in the net this year which was … it just builds confidence.”
