New York Rangers Top Prospect Brett Berard stuns many as he opens up about recent demotion to the AHL
Photo credit: New York Post
completed a 19-game stint in the NHL getting to live out his dreams on Madison Square Garden Ice. Berard would notch his NHL goal in MSG against the team he used to cheer for. Now, he'll have to work his way up the depth chart to see more ice time soon.
Yet Berard himself isn't complaining about the prospect of putting in more work before he can put on the Rangers colors yet again.
"It didn't even really hit me until I got back down here," he said following Tuesday's practice with the Rangers' AHL affiliate at XL Center. "It was kind of all real at that time."
Instead of feeling sorry for himself, Berard would adjust to the situation that had him back in Hartford, suiting up for the club he'd known the past few years.
The Wolfpack.
The routine seemed normal for him, and instead of complaining he's gone about his business and played his game that earned him a shot in the NHL.
"When they're telling you you're coming back here, it stinks in the moment," he said. "But it's an awesome organization. I'm still young, still trying to build upon my game, and I got thrown right back in (with Hartford). We played that Sunday. I got sent down Saturday, so there wasn't too much time to dwell on that. You had to go back on the ice. Every game, every practice down here, they're always watching, so you've got to play your best, no matter if the day before you got sent down or if you're months into the season."
He's even drawn the eyes of Wolfpack Head Coach Grant Potulny, as a "pros-pro" who instead of complaining, Berard is putting in the work.
"With Brett, you're never concerned about effort or preparation or energy," Potulny said. "It's every shift, and that's how he practices. It's in the weight room. It's just what he knows. He's just one of those guys. That's what he does every time, all the time."
Before his injury on January 25th, Berard was on a points streak that lasted three games.
Since his return, he's lit up the lamp and scored 4 points (1 G, 3 A) in two games, including a win over Lehigh Valley.
Berard has gone on a tear in the AHL scoring 21 points in 25 games, this after leading the Wolfpack last season in goals with 25.
He's shown those offensive skills at both the NHL level when he registered his first goal on January 2nd against the Boston Bruins, a favorite team of his.
And his second NHL goal, with family in attendance against the Carolina Hurricanes. He has the capacity to be a full-time NHL player, but the team doesn't have a spot for him at the moment.
He'll have to keep putting in the work in the meantime.
This season he's scored 21 points( 9 G, 12 A) with the Wolfpack.
Previously on NYRangersInsider
| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 13 | 1369 ANSWERS New York Rangers Top Prospect Brett Berard stuns many as he opens up about recent demotion to the AHL Do you think forward Brett Berard can become a full-time NHL player with the New York Rangers? | ||
| Yes | 1072 | 78.3 % |
| No | 297 | 21.7 % |
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