"I wanted to be a top-five player in the league and I think I established that," the New York Rangers forward prospect said.
The biggest question for the 19-year-old is: Will he have to do it all over again?
Othmann, selected by New York in the first round (No. 16) of the 2021 NHL Draft, is not yet eligible to play in the American Hockey League this season because of his age. That means he'll have to make the Rangers' opening night roster or he'll be playing for Flint of the OHL again after he had 97 points (50 goals, 47 assists) in 66 games as its captain last season, and 24 points (nine goals, 15 assists) in 19 playoff games.
Othmann said he believes he's ready to graduate from junior hockey to the pro level.
"The NHL is a big step," Othmann said. "Obviously, playing for the Rangers is a big step. They're a good, young team with veteran leadership. If I can come here, learn, get a few games in, stay as long as I possibly can, I think that would be great for my development and I think it'd be great for everybody. If I don't end up making the team this coming September, then there's always next year. But there is a point where enough is enough, you want to work hard and try to make the team. Hopefully it's this year and I feel like I can do it."
New York will give him a legitimate chance.
"I'm glad that's what his goal is, he obviously had a heck of a year last year," Rangers general manager Chris Drury said. "He's a big-time goal-scorer. He had a really good year putting the puck in the net. He's got a little bit of an edge to his game too. He's a feisty kid. He's very competitive. There's a lot of things we like all over the ice."
Othmann said he has tried to model his game after that of Calgary Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk, particularly with his ability to play bigger than his size.
Tkachuk is 6-feet-2, 201 pounds. Othmann is 6 feet and said he weighed 185 pounds during Rangers prospect development camp this month.
"I really like Tkachuk's game, he's like a role model for me," Othmann said. "He's super hard to play against. He's physical. I'm 180-185, but I play like I'm a little bit heavier, which is good and not many people can say that. It's an attribute I take from Tkachuk.
"You love him on your team, you hate playing against him. That's the model I think of."
He also said he sees a bit of Winnipeg Jets forward Kyle Connor in his game.
"He's a 40-goal scorer, can play both ends of the ice," Othmann said of Connor, who scored an NHL career-high 47 goals in 79 games last season. "He's maybe not as physical as Tkachuk, but he has a really good IQ, knows what to do with the puck."
It will be a home run if Othmann pans out like Tkachuk or Connor. New York will start to find out if that's possible during training camp, and maybe during the regular season too.
"He's a high-end talent, thinks the game well," Rangers director of player development Jed Ortmeyer said. "He's got a great shot. He can score goals. He competes. We're really excited about him. He's highly motivated. He wants to be the best that he can be whether it's there (in the OHL) or for the New York Rangers. We'll take it one step at a time and see where he fits."
