What Is Gabe Perreault Actually Going To Do for This New York Rangers Team?
He’s talented, he’s confident, and he’s ready—but is Gabriel Perreault what the Rangers actually need right now? The answer isn’t as simple as it seems
Gabriel Perreault is officially a New York Ranger.
Great. Now what?
After Boston College was eliminated for the 2025 NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Championship this weekend, all eyes in Rangerstown turned to 2023’s 23rd overall pick. As expected, Perreault left collegiate hockey and signed his entry-level NHL contract with the Blueshirts on Monday. His three-year deal carries an AAV of $1.233 million and a boat-load of questions about its efficacy.
Gabe’s first practice as a #NYR. ✅ pic.twitter.com/rMDnBdQ4zv
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) April 1, 2025
Perreault is a dynamite prospect for the Rangers. He’s fresh off a gold medal win at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship, 48 points in 37 games for Boston College, and a Hobey Baker nomination. His game has only improved since he was drafted, as he’s already averaging over a point per game as a 19-year old. He’s intuitive, smart, and steady. He has all the makings of a centerpiece of the Rangers’ next generation.
The question remains: Are we rushing things a bit?
The prospect doesn’t think so. He told reporters at his first practice:
“Obviously, [it] wasn’t an easy decision at all. Leaving those guys [at Boston College], a lot of my best friends, brothers for life….I just thought it was the time to take the next step. I thought my brain was definitely ready…I think [I] definitely physically took a big step — gained some weight. I think the other biggest thing I was focused on going back to school was the details in my game. I think offensively and defensively, I took a big step in that part.”
While his confidence is a good sign, that doesn't stop the general anxiety. Perreault is burning the first year off his ELC by joining the Rangers with less than a month left in the regular season, which means his discounted price tag will disappear by the end of 2026-27—the same time Artemi Panarin, Brett Berard, Brennan Othmann, Carson Soucy, and Braden Schneider’s contracts expire. The NHL’s salary cap is going up, but between Igor Shesterkin’s $11.5 million AAV, J.T. Miller’s newly added $8 million cap hit, and the likely pricier extensions for RFAs K’Andre Miller and Will Cuylle this summer, the Rangers’ funds are already being stretched quite thin. Perreault wouldn’t necessarily command a lot by the end of his second full season, but every penny counts when you’re trying to restructure a roster and bring in more star talent.
