One of the top prospects for the 2021 NHL Entry Draft has gotten off to a quick start to his loan move in Switzerland. A recent Boston Bruins second-round pick is leading all United States Hockey League (USHL) defensemen in scoring and a Winnipeg Jets former second-round pick finally scores his first goal in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL).
Othmann Excelling in Switzerland
Back in November, Flint Firebirds forward Brennan Othmann was loaned to Switzerland to play for EHC Olten of the Swiss League. He was drafted second overall by the Firebirds in the 2019 OHL Priority Selection and amassed 17 goals and 16 assists for 33 points in 55 games played during his rookie season. He was named to the Second All-Rookie Team for his efforts. Othmann is the nephew of the former EHC Olten player Robert Othmann who played for the team from 2002-2007. Brennan has a Swiss passport, which made the move possible.
Othmann is one of the Ontario Hockey League’s top prospects available for the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. In July, former THW member Josh Bell listed him as one of his Top 5 OHL Players to Watch for this season.
Othmann’s shot is deadly. It’s an absolute laser beam. Whether it’s his snapshot or a one-timer, he’s ridiculously accurate when he fires the puck. However, he only took 87 shots this season, choosing to pass the puck off rather than firing it himself. Watch his goal totals rise next season as he plays with a little more confidence. He does a great job reading the ice and knowing how to create space for himself. He then uses his creativeness and agile feet to makes sure he gets himself and the puck to that spot. As for his skating, he uses his edges very well but doesn’t accelerate as quickly as some of the others on this list. With more confidence and a faster first step, Othmann could be one of the best forwards in this class.
Josh Bell – The Hockey Writers
Othmann has played six games for EHC Olten since leaving for Switzerland. He has amassed three goals and one assists for four points with two of those goals coming in his most recent outing, a 5-1 victory over HC La Chaux-de-Fonds.
Lohrei Leading USHL Defensemen
Bruins’ prospect Mason Lohrei is taking the USHL by storm this season. Drafted 58th overall in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, the Bruins surprised many by taking Lohrei that high. However, he’s more than proved his worth since the beginning of the 2020-21 USHL season. Through nine games he leads all USHL defenseman in scoring with five goals and nine assists for 14 points. He currently sits seventh among all skaters in league scoring. He started the season on a seven-game point streak before being held pointless in the Green Bay Gamblers’ 5-1 loss to the Des Moines Buccaneers. He followed that up with a three-point outburst in Green Bay’s most recent victory.
During the 2019-20 season, Lohrei finished second in scoring among defensemen behind 2021 top prospect Owen Power. Lohrei registered eight goals and a position-leading 29 assists for 37 points in 48 games played. His impressive sophomore season should set him up well for 2021-22 when he moves to the NCAA and joins Ohio State University. The Bruins’ may have reached a little with this second-round pick, but it looks like it’s starting to pay off sooner rather than later.
Lundmark Finally Scores First SHL Goal
It’s been a long time coming for Jets’ prospect Simon Lundmark — 88 games to be exact. However, the former 51st-overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft has finally picked up his first goal in the SHL. In fact, over the last three seasons, the Swedish defenseman has played 71 games in the SHL and has amassed only six assists in that span. It’s been a bit more of a productive season for the 20-year-old thus far as he has put up one goal and four assists for five points in 17 games played.
THW’s Jets contributor Declan Schroeder had Lundmark as the Jets’ ninth-best prospect heading into the 2020-21 season. He had this to say about the Linkopings HC defenseman:
If you’re expecting Simon Lundmark’s point totals to jump off the page, you’d be sorely disappointed: in 2019-20, the right-hander recorded just three assists in 40 games with Linkopings HC and two goals and six assists in 15 games for the Linkoping HC under-20 squad. Producing offence is not his primary strength. Where the 6-foot-1, 200-pound Lundmark’s true strengths lie are in his defensive capabilities. He is known as a player whose exceptional skating ability is the foundation for all his other assets, such as his outstanding positioning and two-way ability.
He’s definitely one to watch for Jets fans moving forward. Especially after the losses of Jacob Trouba to the New York Rangers and Dustin Byfuglien, which has left the team desperate for right-handed defensemen.