Rangers sign top prospect Gabe Perreault after Boston College’s NCAA ouster

The Rangers are wasting no time bringing their top prospect to New York. 

After his sophomore season at Boston College came to an end Sunday night with a loss to Denver in the NCAA Regional Final, Gabe Perreault signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Blueshirts and is expected to report to New York on Tuesday, The Post’s Larry Brooks first reported Monday.  

Perreault burned a year off his ELC the moment he put pen to paper on his first NHL contract, which has him set to become a restricted free agent in the summer of 2027. 

“He’s too smart for college hockey,” as one college coach put it to The Post. 

Hailed for his offensive talents, Perreault quickly became an untouchable after the organization drafted him 23rd-overall in 2023.

The Rangers are working toward a deal with 2023 first-round pick Gabe Perreault.

The Hinsdale, Illinois native made a name for himself at BC and in the last two World Junior Championships, in which Perreault played a critical role in Team USA’s first set of back-to-back gold medal wins in history. 

Finishing second in Division I in assists (41) and tied for fourth in points (60) his freshman season, Perreault was named a CCM/AHCA second team all-American, a Hockey East second team All-Star and a New England All-Star. He recorded at least one point in 30 of the 36 games he played. 

Despite a slight dip in his production in the 2024-25 campaign – 48 points (16 goals, 32 assists) in 37 games – Perreault was still an integral part of one of the most dynamic lines in the NCAA alongside Ryan Leonard, who signed his ELC with the Capitals Monday, and projected No. 1 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, James Hagens. 

Gabe Perreault skates for Boston College against Denver in the NCAA hockey tournament on March 30, 2025.

In his last 14 World Junior Championship games, Perreault also collected six goals and 14 assists. 

There is a sort of star quality to the 19-year-old Perreault, who already partnered up with Armani to advertise their Acqua di Gio Profondo Parfum. I mean, how New York of him?

If the Rangers are bringing Perreault to New York, it’s difficult to imagine the 5-foot-11, 178-pound wing watching from the press box. He’d likely be sent to AHL Hartford if that was the expectation. 

That is unless the Rangers see more benefits to simply having Perreault around the NHL club. 

Otherwise, Perreault could make his NHL debut as soon as Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden against the Wild. 

While there’s belief his experience next to other high-end players like Leonard and Hagens will ease his transition to the NHL level, there’s naturally a question of whether it’s the right time for him to make the jump. 

The main concerns are that Perreault is neither physically ready nor prepared for the pace of the NHL. There is also some room for improvement where his skating is concerned. 

With eight games left in the regular season, the Rangers could use it as an opportunity to evaluate as much sooner rather than later. 

Perreault’s BC teammate and fellow Rangers draft pick Drew Fortescue had the curtains drawn on his sophomore season as well, but the 19-year-old defenseman isn’t expected to be on the exact same track. 

The Rangers and Fortescue’s camp will have to decide whether it’s best for the third-round pick in 2023 to go back for his junior season or turn pro.

After Ryan Lindgren’s trade to Colorado left the Rangers rather thin on the left side of the defensive depth chart, Fortescue could get his feet wet in the AHL for a season or less before getting his first recall to the big club. 

Either way, the next wave of NHL talent is on the way and the Rangers have a couple of its’ most notable names.