Prospect Info: 2023-2024 Rangers Prospects Thread (Prospect Stats in Post #1; Updated 05.22.2024)

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HatTrick Swayze

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Have taken it pretty easy on here lately, and w watching the NYR.

In their stead I have watched almost every BC game so far this year.

Perrault’s start has been nothing short of phenomenal. To walk in as an 18 year old true freshman and display this dominant level of vision and puck retrieval is simply unheard of.

I can see why Smith and Leonard were drafted ahead of him based on projectability. And I think both have exciting things to offer. But GP is on another plane with his hockey IQ.

Only dark cloud is the Gauthier looks like the real deal as well. Obviously NCAA to the NHL is a huge step but he looks really good. WJC should be fun to watch this year.
 

rangersfansince08

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Like i said oozes skill and his IQ will transfer to the NHL. Kakko and Laf made their names physically dominating guys who will never make the NHL
 

rangersfansince08

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Oct 8, 2019
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Have taken it pretty easy on here lately, and w watching the NYR.

In their stead I have watched almost every BC game so far this year.

Perrault’s start has been nothing short of phenomenal. To walk in as an 18 year old true freshman and display this dominant level of vision and puck retrieval is simply unheard of.

I can see why Smith and Leonard were drafted ahead of him based on projectability. And I think both have exciting things to offer. But GP is on another plane with his hockey IQ.

Only dark cloud is the Gauthier looks like the real deal as well. Obviously NCAA to the NHL is a huge step but he looks really good. WJC should be fun to watch this year.
How has his skating, compete level and willingness to go to the middle been?
 

HatTrick Swayze

Just Be Nice
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How has his skating, compete level and willingness to go to the middle been?

Compete level is excellent. He is super feisty on pucks all over the ice and I’m biased but would generally say he is the most defensively responsible of the freshman trio. I think it was Lowell’s first goal tonight, he was back trying to cover the slot and pressure the puck as a RW while Smith is last man back as the center and then further tries to cheat out of the defensive zone for a rush before BC even fully controls the puck. Not trying to slam Smith here, it’s kind of a classic hot shot Freshman move where these kids need to learn. But it says something the GP is the one way back, not cheating as much, and still able to generate a ton of offense.

This is evident in Coach Brown’s usage of GP relative to the other two in my opinion. GP is on PP1 and occasionally gets shifts with Gauthier. Occasionally ends up getting double shifted or close to it when the PP ends and the Freshman line is due up. Has stepped in to take some draws for Smith on multiple occasions. Brown clearly really likes the kid and he should.

Pure skating ability is not a plus attribute which is what I was hinting at when I said I can see why Smith or Leonard could be seen as more projectable. It does not really hinder him at this level, he gets around fine despite not always looking pretty. He is frequently the first man on the puck on the forecheck. It’s not holding him back right now. He is maybe a 60th percentile skater with elite IQ. Jumping to the NHL level? We’ll see obviously but it’s also the reason why we as Ranger fans are even talking about this kid. Wouldn’t have been able to draft him otherwise.
 
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rangersfansince08

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Compete level is excellent. He is super feisty on pucks all over the ice and I’m biased but would generally say he is the most defensively responsible of the freshman trio. I think it was Lowell’s first goal tonight, he was back trying to cover the slot and pressure the puck as a RW while Smith is last man back as the center and then further tries to cheat out of the defensive zone for a rush before BC even fully controls the puck. Not trying to slam Smith here, it’s kind of a classic hot shot Freshman move where these kids need to learn. But it says something the GP is the one way back, not cheating as much, and still able to generate a ton of offense.

This is evident in Coach Brown’s usage of GP relative to the other two in my opinion. GP is on PP1 and occasionally gets shifts with Gauthier. Occasionally ends up getting double shifted or close to it when the PP ends and the Freshman line is due up. Has stepped in to take some draws for Smith on multiple occasions. Brown clearly really likes the kid and he should.

Pure skating ability is not a plus attribute which is what I was hinting at when I said I can see why Smith or Leonard could be seen as more projectable. It does not really hinder him at this level, he gets around fine despite not always looking pretty. He is frequently the first man on the puck on the forecheck. It’s not holding him back right now. He is maybe a 60th percentile skater with elite IQ. Jumping to the NHL level? We’ll see obviously but it’s also the reason why we as Ranger fans are even talking about this kid. Wouldn’t have been able to draft him otherwise.
Would he still be a 60th percentile skater in the NHL? Or lower? Hopefully he can still improve a bit.

Sounds like he has Panarin's skills with Fox's skating. As long as he is a 50-60th percentile skater in the NHL I think we got a steal. I think we are all pretty confident his IQ can translate. And you are right if he was an elite skater he would have gone top 5 or top 10. He's the inversion of the other guy I wanted in some way, Oliver Moore who is an elite skater but probably has average IQ.
 

nyr2k2

Can't Beat Him
Jul 30, 2005
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MSL, Oates, Ciccarelli, and Belfour have to be up there. He may end up in that group but I don't know if I'd put him above them. Depends on how long he sticks around, I guess.
 
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GoAwayPanarin

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Compete level is excellent. He is super feisty on pucks all over the ice and I’m biased but would generally say he is the most defensively responsible of the freshman trio. I think it was Lowell’s first goal tonight, he was back trying to cover the slot and pressure the puck as a RW while Smith is last man back as the center and then further tries to cheat out of the defensive zone for a rush before BC even fully controls the puck. Not trying to slam Smith here, it’s kind of a classic hot shot Freshman move where these kids need to learn. But it says something the GP is the one way back, not cheating as much, and still able to generate a ton of offense.

This is evident in Coach Brown’s usage of GP relative to the other two in my opinion. GP is on PP1 and occasionally gets shifts with Gauthier. Occasionally ends up getting double shifted or close to it when the PP ends and the Freshman line is due up. Has stepped in to take some draws for Smith on multiple occasions. Brown clearly really likes the kid and he should.

Pure skating ability is not a plus attribute which is what I was hinting at when I said I can see why Smith or Leonard could be seen as more projectable. It does not really hinder him at this level, he gets around fine despite not always looking pretty. He is frequently the first man on the puck on the forecheck. It’s not holding him back right now. He is maybe a 60th percentile skater with elite IQ. Jumping to the NHL level? We’ll see obviously but it’s also the reason why we as Ranger fans are even talking about this kid. Wouldn’t have been able to draft him otherwise.

@HatTrick Swayze good stuff.

I think all 3 of the program kids have their drawbacks. Gabe just happens to have the one that NHL teams shy away from the most (small and light.)

Smith is a bit of a hot dog and honestly has been the worst of the 3 imo. The one thing you hit on was Gabe’s hockey sense being the highest of the 3 and I think that’s become abundantly clear at this level. He was still a worthy top 5 selection but there’s a ton of work left to do there. San Jose should let him cook another year.

I love Leonard’s game so much, but he’s going to have to be the second guy on his line at the NHL level. He’s a step below the other 2 in terms of skill and sense but I love the combo of net drive/dig and shoot.

There are more than a few teams that are going to regret passing on him. He has almost matched Stramel’s NCAA production in 8 games and Charlie is a sophomore.
 

rangersfansince08

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@HatTrick Swayze good stuff.

I think all 3 of the program kids have their drawbacks. Gabe just happens to have the one that NHL teams shy away from the most (small and light.)

Smith is a bit of a hot dog and honestly has been the worst of the 3 imo. The one thing you hit on was Gabe’s hockey sense being the highest of the 3 and I think that’s become abundantly clear at this level. He was still a worthy top 5 selection but there’s a ton of work left to do there. San Jose should let him cook another year.

I love Leonard’s game so much, but he’s going to have to be the second guy on his line at the NHL level. He’s a step below the other 2 in terms of skill and sense but I love the combo of net drive/dig and shoot.

There are more than a few teams that are going to regret passing on him. He has almost matched Stramel’s NCAA production in 8 games and Charlie is a sophomore.
Thanks for the info. I still like Smith and think he is a future superstar.

You think Gabe can drive a line?
 

Levitate

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Jul 29, 2004
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Thanks for the info. I still like Smith and think he is a future superstar.

You think Gabe can drive a line?
I think he can. He’s doing more facilitating and setting up his line and his line mates have generally been more straightforward downhill to the net

I haven’t watched every game but just my impression. He is most definitely not a passenger who doesn’t drive possession
 

rangersfansince08

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I think he can. He’s doing more facilitating and setting up his line and his line mates have generally been more straightforward downhill to the net

I haven’t watched every game but just my impression. He is most definitely not a passenger who doesn’t drive possession
That's great. If we can get a skating coach to make him a plus skater and work on adding bulk to his frame we might have something great.
 

Amazing Kreiderman

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Schedule for week 45

1699273455525.png
 

Eegs

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How has Brett Berard looked so far in the AHL this season? Counting stats look decent, but haven't seen him play.
 
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