2025 Rangers Report Card: Brett Berard

This post is part of an ongoing series of Rangers Report Cards, grading the performance of each member of the 2024-25 New York Rangers. To view more report cards in this series, go here.

Expectations

With the New York Rangers starting the season very deep at forward, it was always unlikely Brett Berard would make the opening night roster. Even after leading the Hartford Wolf Pack with 25 goals and turning heads during training camp, he was still sent back to Connecticut where he would start the season in the AHL. The 2020 fifth-rounder was thought to be one of the first called up if a player was injured or traded. Once Berard was inevitably called to take the ice at Madison Square Garden, the expectation was that his gritty playstyle would put to bed any worries about his size and prove he could be an NHL player.

Performance

Berard would have a successful start to the season with the Wolf Pack, registering 13 points in 16 games, including the first goal of the season against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. During his time with the team, Berard only continued to separate himself from other top prospects. The Wolf Pack star would get the long-awaited call-up on Nov. 25, two days after a 4-2 loss to the Springfield Thunderbirds.

While a rookie making his NHL debut typically steals the headlines, this was not the case for Brett Berard. The same day as his debut, general manager Chris Drury released The Memo to teams across the league. The memo was a shock to many, as Drury expressed his willingness to trade veteran players such as Jacob Trouba and Chris Kreider. The news overshadowed the debut of one of the team's better prospects.

Despite all of the noise, Berard would record his first point, an assist on Will Cuylle's second goal of the night. Ultimately, the Rangers would lose 5-2 to the St. Louis Blues. The very next game, the 23-year-old would net his first career goal against the Carolina Hurricanes in what would eventually be a 4-3 loss. Six games later, Berard would strike again against the Blues, scoring his second career goal.

The rookie then went quiet for a while, going pointless in five straight before starting to heat up again. In a tough loss against the Florida Panthers, Berard mustered an assist on the Rangers' first goal of the night to try and help them mount a comeback. Only a couple of days later, he'd score his biggest goal yet. In a close 2-1 victory over the Boston Bruins, the young skater was able to come away with what would be the game-winning goal. Two games later, he continued to impress with 2 assists in a 6-2 win against the Chicago Blackhawks. Two games later, Berard was assigned back to Hartford, a move that made little sense.

Beard's first stint with the Rangers would end after 19 games. During that time span, the rookie would tally three goals and four assists. While the numbers don't pop off the screen, Berard played very well for the Rangers, and many questioned why head coach Peter Laviolette sent him back to Hartford. During his time in New York, he was relentless on the forecheck, solid defensively, and had a motor that never stopped. At a time when the team seemed lifeless, Berard continued to show up every day, making his return to Hartford all that much more surprising.

Berard returned to Hartford on Jan 12 in a close 3-1 loss to the Springfield Thunderbirds. During a 14-game stretch with the Wolf Pack, Berard was able to put up 10 points before once again being called up to the Rangers, where he would remain for the rest of the season. Once rejoining the Rangers, he would play in 16 games and have three goals, two of which were in their 9-2 win over the Islanders on April 10. Similar to his first stint in the NHL, the numbers do not accurately reflect Berard's performance. Every time he was on the ice, the young skater consistently gave his best and continued to stand out.

Grade

Author Grade: B

Banter Consensus: B-

Final Evaluation

Overall, I think a grade of a B or a B- is fitting for Berard in his rookie season. In his rookie season, Berard played 35 games, scored 6 goals, and registered 4 assists. Statistics aside, he was able to prove his size is not a factor holding him back at the NHL level. During a challenging year for the Blueshirts, the young player demonstrated unwavering dedication and perseverance on the ice. The team and Peter Laviolette, however, did not contribute positively to Berard's development. The young forward was usually put on a bottom six pair, received barely any power play time, and was regularly scratched from the lineup towards the end of the season.

Entering next season, Berard has earned the right to compete for a top-six role on the team. It is anticipated that the Rangers will let go of some of their veteran players, potentially paving the way for Berard to receive increased playing time. If the Rangers hope to get the most out of the 23-year-old, they need to give him room to grow. This means putting the best players around him, keeping him in the lineup, and giving him consistent minutes. These were all essential to maximizing Berard's rookie season, and it was disappointing the Rangers didn't put him in a favorable position for the majority of the season. Under a new coach, Brett Berard should have a better opportunity to grow and become a solid contributor in New York.