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Brett Berard, New York Rangers (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

Rangers Prospect Brett Berard Will Look Better in Latest Call-Up

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers | By Mike Fink | Last updated Mar 2, 2025 10:00 AM ET

The Hartford Wolf Pack are in the middle of a rough season and trying to make a playoff push. One of the integral players to that push is Brett Berard, one of the New York Rangers’ top prospects. He was called up to the NHL from the American Hockey League (AHL) and is hoping to prove this stint is different from his previous one.

Berard played 19 games with the NHL team and scored only three goals and four assists before he was sent down to the Wolf Pack. Whether this call-up is to showcase him to other NHL teams for a trade or to see if he can find a role on the roster, Berard is looking to prove that this stint is different.

Berard’s Skill

It’s hard to ignore Berard’s skill and what he brings to the offense. With the Wolf Pack, he often carried his line by playing from the wing position and was a common passer on Brennan Othmann‘s goals. Now that he’ll be playing on the Rangers, he’ll once again find Othmann in a third-line role.

The skill is a known positive of Berard’s. It’s the other issues that have weighed him down and ultimately forced the Rangers to keep him with the Wolf Pack. He’s one of the smaller skaters in the AHL, at 5-foot-9 and weighing 175 pounds. He gets pushed around, and it becomes an issue in the NHL. It’s why Berard’s pivot has allowed him to get another chance.

Berard’s Defensive Play

Despite being a smaller skater, Berard has started to forecheck and play a physical game. On Feb. 28, against the Springfield Thunderbirds, he set the tone with his physical play and forced multiple turnovers with his hits in the offensive zone, allowing the Wolf Pack to take the game 4-3 in a shootout. “He earned all those chances late in the game by the way he played early in the game,” head coach Grant Potulny noted after the game. Now, he’s earned his way back to the NHL with that physical play.

Berard also uses his speed to his advantage when he doesn’t have the puck. Aside from finding open ice to generate more offense, he closes in on opponents when they have the puck, and it’s given him a great backcheck. The Rangers need forwards who can drive the offense but also defend on the third and fourth lines. Berard is one of the young skaters who can do that, both this season and in the future.

How Berard Will Be Different in Latest Stint

The last time he was on the Rangers’ roster, he struggled to find a role in the forward unit. He moved around in the lineup, and while he showed flashes, he didn’t play well on a consistent basis. On top of that, his defense was an issue, and as the Rangers spiraled downward in the standings, his struggles went hand in hand with them.

The big plus is that he’s reunited with Othmann, who was his linemate with the Wolf Pack. The two connected for plenty of goals at the AHL level, and they know each other well. Berard knows where Othmann is on the ice and knows when he’s open. It’s a duo the Rangers can lean on for goals on their third line.

The other difference is that Berard has rounded out his game. He’s playing defense and skating back on the play when the opponent is moving the puck on the rush. He can create turnovers and, when needed, step up and play a physical game as well.

There’s no telling how long Berard will be on the NHL team and if this call-up is only a brief one ahead of the trade deadline. Likewise, it’s possible his game against the Nashville Predators on Sunday, March 2, will be his last with the Rangers as they might look to trade him ahead of the deadline. One thing is clear: he’s ready for the NHL, more so than previously.