Brett Berard Competing for Rangers’ Third-Line Spot After Shoulder Recovery
On July 24, 2025, at the third annual Shoulder Check Showcase held at Terry Conners Rink in Stamford, Connecticut, New York Rangers forward Brett Berard confirmed he played most of the 2024–25 NHL season with a torn labrum in his shoulder. He said the injury occurred on November 30, 2024, during his fourth NHL game, which was against the Montreal Canadiens.
Berard said he sat out the next three games and returned to play on December 9, 2024. He finished the season with 31 more NHL games and 14 American Hockey League (AHL) games with the Hartford Wolf Pack while wearing a shoulder brace.
“It was really kind of just a normal hit,” Berard said. “I just went in weird. I’ve never had any shoulder problems. Knock on wood, hopefully this will be the last one. But it didn’t feel great at all.”
Berard stated that he did not require surgery and has used the offseason to recover. He described the shoulder as feeling “a lot better now” and said he expects to be fully ready for training camp
It stunk. I was rooting for everybody, it was awesome to see them win gold there,” Berard said. “It makes you a little bit jealous, but I know a ton of those guys, a lot of best friends with them.
