What will the 2025-26 season look like for Gabe Perreault?
Perreault surged up the NHL prospect ranks after two years at Boston College where he emerged as one of the top college hockey players in the country.
Toward the end of the 2024-25 campaign, Perreault signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the New York Rangers and he officially began his NHL career.
The 20-year-old played in just five games and failed to record a point, but the experience he gained was valuable.
Perreault played up and down the lineup while also getting some exposure on the second power-play unit.
“I think it definitely helps,” Perreault said about his five games playing for the Rangers. “Obviously I played against some good teams, all five teams I played are playoff teams. I think getting that experience to see what’s like a little bit helps me going into training in the summer and kind of know a little more what to expect.”
Now, Perreault will have a full offseason to train as he’s expected to skate with Patrick Kane, Alex DeBrincat, J. T. Compher, and Christian Dvorak according to Jonny Lazarus of Daily Faceoff.
While Perreault is not a shoo-in to make the Rangers opening night roster next season, he’ll have the opportunity to fight for a spot during training camp and all signs point to him making the team.
The young forward adds an explosive offensive presence and if he’s able to hold his own on the defensive end, we could see Perreault garnering a top-six role, especially if he’s as good as advertised from an offensive standpoint.
Perreault is a pass-first kind of player, which will boil over well on the power play if he’s given an opportunity to play on the man advantage again.
With Mike Sullivan behind the bench for the Rangers, it’s unclear how much trust he’ll instill in the younger players like Perreault.
“I think that it really is an individualized process,” Sullivan said about his philosophy of managing young talent. “I don’t think you can paint every player with the same brush. Everyone is different. Part of coaching or the art of coaching, I guess, is trying to figure out what that daily recipe is that’s best for the player.
“Sometimes it’s time in the American League as a young player, sometimes it’s time in the National League depending on the types of minutes that that player can play. What I will tell you is that I think it’s important that every player earns their opportunities, that no one’s entitled to an opportunity.”
Regardless of the ups and downs Perreault may go through during his rookie season, the future is bright for him and Rangers fans should be excited.
