Gabe Perreault ready to take the next big step in his Rangers development

New York Post

03-07-2025

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In March, Gabe Perreault made the ultimate jump into his dream reality.
After the Rangers selected the right wing in the first round (23rd overall) in 2023, he signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the team.
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Perreault was thrown into the fire April 2 for his NHL debut and went on to play in five games for the Blueshirts last season.
Months later, he is using the offseason to get back to that same place.
In the Rangers developmental camp for prospects, Perreault stands out above the rest with his recent pro experience and impressive résumé as a sophomore at Boston College.
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This summer, the 20-year-old has been working on gaining weight and muscle in the gym while training in Chicago with a group of NHL players that includes Patrick Kane, who he referred to as 'the best stickhandler in the world.'
'I'm going in with the mentality that I'm going to make the team,' Perreault said Wednesday after the second day of camp at the MSG Training Center. 'I think coming into camp, that's what everyone's mentality should be. Like I said, this summer, I'm going to do everything this summer. Train hard, work on the little things I need to.'
Some of those 'little things' to show his readiness to the new Rangers coaching staff include puck battles, coverage on defense, and skating.
Perreault had a phone call with new head coach Mike Sullivan a few days after he landed the job but has yet to have a conversation, outside of an introductory fashion, about the Rangers' expectations of him.
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Gabe Perreault was thrown into the fire on April 2 for his NHL debut and went on to play in five games for the Blueshirts last season.
Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
'Whatever they need me to do, I'm willing to do,' Perreault said. 'So, I'm just coming into camp, trying to find a role and, you know, whatever they want me to do, I'm more than willing to do.'
As a freshman at Boston College, the Sherbrooke, Quebec native impressed with 60 points on 19 goals and 41 assists in 36 games, ranking second in the nation in assists and tied for fourth in points.
This past season, Perreault finished with 48 points on 16 goals and 32 assists across 37 games and was selected as a Hockey East First-Team All-Star.
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Gabe Perrault (94, right) battles Noah Laba during Rangers rookie training camp on July 2, 2025.
Robert Sabo for New York Post
Perreault also won back-to-back gold medals with the U.S. at the 2024 and 2025 IIHF World Junior Championships.
The NHL experience came as a bit of a shock to Perreault, despite being around the lifestyle of a pro for much of his life as the son of Yanic Perreault, who had a 14-year NHL career.
'A little bit,' Perreault admitted about it being a humbling experience. 'I think overall I did a lot of little things well. I think defensively and all that, I was pretty good. But, I think going into this camp, like I said, just trying to make more of an impact, make some plays and all that.'
In Perreault's first taste of the league, he played against only playoff teams — Devils, Wild, Lightning and the Stanley Cup champion Panthers.
Across the five contests, he had five shots on goal out of 10 attempted shots and had six giveaways. He averaged nearly 15 minutes on the ice per game while wearing No. 94, just like his father.
'It's tough. You don't really know until you're in it, how tough it is,' he said. 'But, just overall super glad I did it and it's definitely going to help me going into camp.
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'Those guys [opposing NHL players] are special and [seeing] how talented they are and just how fast and how smart the guys are.'