The New York Rangers have struggled to develop their top forward prospects since announcing that they were beginning to rebuild during the 2018-19 season. Those struggles have led them to once again make major changes this season as they traded star winger Artemi Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings. The trade creates an opportunity for New York’s top prospect, Gabe Perreault, and they need to focus on his development.
Perreault Is a Talented Player
The Rangers drafted Perrault late in the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft, after he spent two seasons with the U.S. National Development Team. He became a star with Boston College during the 2023-24 season and finished with 19 goals and 41 assists in 36 games while playing on a line with Will Smith, who is now with the San Jose Sharks, and Ryan Leonard, who is now with the Washington Capitals. Last season, he had 16 goals and 32 assists in 37 games.
Perreault left Boston College after his sophomore season and produced 10 goals and seven assists in 20 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL) this season. His strong play earned him a call-up to the Rangers, and he has shown flashes of his potential. Earlier this season, he spent some time on the third line, but he earned consistent ice time in the last few weeks before the Olympics began.
Perreault is a smart player with a good shot and is an excellent playmaker who has made some beautiful passes with the Rangers. He has not made many defensive mistakes, but has not gotten a lot of points as the entire team has struggled offensively. He has three goals and five assists in 24 games with New York this season. His biggest issue is his lack of speed, which has allowed opposing defenders to catch him from behind on chances for odd-man rushes a few times.
The Rangers Need to Focus on Perreault’s Development
For seven seasons with the Rangers, Panarin was an elite offensive weapon who made the players around him better. At 34 years old, he still led the team in points with 57 in 52 games, even though many of his teammates struggled or missed extended time with injuries. His skill and playmaking will be sorely missed, especially with the team already struggling offensively.
Related: Grading the Kings & Rangers’ Blockbuster Artemi Panarin Trade
One positive of the Panarin trade is that it should allow Perreault to consistently play with some of the Rangers’ top forwards. He played alongside J.T. Miller and Mika Zibanejad, with Panarin sitting out for a few games before getting traded, and he should continue to play in the top-six after the Olympics.
Though Miller struggled early this season, he has 12 points in his last 10 games, and Zibanejad is in the midst of a bounce-back season and has 23 goals and 29 assists in 56 games. Many times, the Rangers opted to play their top prospects in bottom-six defensive roles for their first few seasons, but this is an opportunity to play Perreault with two of the team’s top forwards, including their best goal-scorer, and put him in a position to succeed.
In addition to playing on one of the Rangers’ top lines, Perreault should also get consistent ice time on the power play. His lack of speed should be less of an issue on the power play, and they can certainly use his playmaking after trading away Panarin, who was elite on the power play throughout his time with New York.
Perreault’s Development Will Be Key for the Rangers
The Rangers are in last place in the Eastern Conference and are beginning to rebuild, which means their focus should be on developing young players, including Perreault. He is their top prospect, and the Panarin trade should allow him to play in the top-six and on the power play.
After the Rangers failed to get the most out of many of their top prospects in the last seven seasons, the hope is that Perreault will make the most of his playing time and steadily develop.
