Draft Round 1 #23: New York Rangers Select RW Gabriel Perreault (Boston College, NCAA)

[NickyFotiu]

Hockey sense >>>> size, skill, speed.

Fox, Marchessault, Draisatl, and countless other players hammer this point home. Gretzky even claims he had to out-think his opponents because he wasn't the biggest or the fastest player.

Laf and Kakko are too busy playing Panarin style fancy boy hockey to get it going.

Nils Lundqvist, unlike Fox, doesn't have the hockey IQ to make up for his stature and skating ability.

I think Gretz used to play in to that a little bit. I know he did not score highly in some preseason strength/speed tests but he was faster than his reputation in my opinion. He had too many breakaways to be a slow guy. When he was on the Superstars he won foot races against some fast guys. His thighs were like guys that really put in work.

In regards to Gabriel has anyone seen any clips of him looking slow? I would be interested in seeing them. I have not seen any yet.

 

[MysticLeviathan]

maybe I'm just the eternal optimist to some extent but I still don't think Laf and Kakko's skating are the things that are really holding them back. I think if they had elite skating then it would have boosted them up to an elite level early on, sure, but where they're at now they aren't "slow" players or "bad skating" players. They ultimately to me look like players who have lacked direction. They don't play fast not because they're slow bad skaters, but because their team for the most part played slow deliberate hockey rather than something that'd give them structure to use their greatest skills.

I think skating is a bit overrated now...it can be a great asset and I'll take a fast player over a just good skater all other skills the same, but skating isn't the only reason the Devils are fast. Their gameplan is fast and dedicated to moving the puck up the ice as quickly as possible and not just by skating. The Rangers gameplan was never about moving it up the ice fast

So, coaching will be huge for either unlocking these guys potential (including Othman and Perreault) or proving they just don't have what it takes (Kakko and Laf)

I just don’t agree. There have been so many times where they haven’t been able to do what they want to do because they can’t open things up because they can’t skate. Especially with a guy like Kakko, they need space to do things. And especially with Laf, they’re both really smart players, but their bodies can’t move as fast as their minds, so they aren’t able to make the play before the defender takes it away.

Honestly that’s all they should have been working on the last 3 years. Finding ways to open things up for themselves. If they could do that, they have everything else to double up their point totals.

 

[KennyWu]

Some of the comments on here you'd think the kid only has one leg.


I like the pick. BPA, seemed to be ranked a lot higher by some outlets, looks highly skilled, excited to see what he becomes.

 

[Savant]

My point is about the attributes of the player- not when they were picked. If the attributes are similar then I would expect that the outcome would be similar. I don’t see that as a leap- of course these are people so no one can definitively say the outcomes will be the same but I hope you get where I am coming from.

I do, but I also don’t think your expectations for a player taken 23rd in the draft are realistic. You aren’t going to get a guy that does it all at 23. Everyone going to have a wart or two. I’d rather bet on a guy with Perreaults skill set than a fast dumb guy

 

[rangersfansince08]

I do, but I also don’t think your expectations for a player taken 23rd in the draft are realistic. You aren’t going to get a guy that does it all at 23. Everyone going to have a wart or two. I’d rather bet on a guy with Perreaults skill set than a fast dumb guy

People are looking for the perfect player at 23. If we drafted Moore people would complain about his hockey IQ and would compare him to Miles Wood or somebody

 

[Savant]

People are looking for the perfect player at 23. If we drafted Moore people would complain about his hockey IQ and would compare him to Miles Wood or somebody

Probably, yeah. I would have LOVED Moore but that was never going to happen so I can’t cry over spilled milk. I would have loved Bedard too.

And here is the thing with Perreault - Yes he does have some of the same red flags that the Rangers have made mistakes on in the past; but it’s a different scenario when you are taking that guy at 23.

Everyone complaining about him at 23, I ask who would have been better that was on the board and I think only one person had an answer (they liked Musty who I liked too but just thought Perreault was better/more consistent)

 

[duhmetreE]

go the Fox route.... a few years of college... maybe 2 years if he progresses physically.

 

[Machinehead]

Just waiting for someone to crucify Drury for this pick, because thats the cool thing to do.

Edit: Nevermind JHS just won the trophy.

I knew Patrick before he was a big shot in the analytics community. He knows his stuff.

 

[RagFinMet]

I like the pick in the sense his consensus rank was 15 so he was the consensus BPA and he's a top 6 forward or bust. We lack top 6 prospects.
Stenberg was next at 18,
On my personal board tho i had Perreault at 18, Stenberg at 15 and Heidt at 14 as i emphasize speed and compete level.
So i would have traded down and aimed for Heidt, Brindley, Sawchyn and picked up a 2nd and 3rd

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I just don’t agree. There have been so many times where they haven’t been able to do what they want to do because they can’t open things up because they can’t skate. Especially with a guy like Kakko, they need space to do things. And especially with Laf, they’re both really smart players, but their bodies can’t move as fast as their minds, so they aren’t able to make the play before the defender takes it away.

Honestly that’s all they should have been working on the last 3 years. Finding ways to open things up for themselves. If they could do that, they have everything else to double up their point totals.

This is BS.

Kakko's biggest issues are not shooting when he should shoot and refusing to drive the net. Kakko can live in the paint if he wants to, he just doesn't. If that changes, watch how impactful he becomes offensively.

Laf just can't push himself through the first wave of defense often enough.

I guess you can kind of point to skating with Laf, but getting stronger would help him way more than getting faster would.

It's not really a comparable with Perrault though. He has WAY more physical growth ahead of him at the time of the draft and is a 2-3 year wait at the very least and he already moves better than both of the aforementioned guys.

 

[duhmetreE]

In regards to Gabriel has anyone seen any clips of him looking slow? I would be interested in seeing them. I have not seen any yet.

You'd probably have to look at tape from last season. First impressions hold a lot of weight. If you saw him last year and he looked small/weak/slow, that evaluation sticks with you.

He is not the same player as last season. He is obviously not anywhere close to being physically matured either. That is evident. He looks 15-16

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I knew Patrick before he was a big shot in the analytics community. He knows his stuff.

Maybe, but his prospect model is butt.

 

[Machinehead]

I do, but I also don’t think your expectations for a player taken 23rd in the draft are realistic. You aren’t going to get a guy that does it all at 23. Everyone going to have a wart or two. I’d rather bet on a guy with Perreaults skill set than a fast dumb guy

Even the guys we got 1st and 2nd overall have warts.

There's a huge development jump when you get to the NHL and it all depends on how that jump goes.

That goes for everyone. Even a guy like McDavid was can't miss, sure, but so was John Tavares. One is a PPG player and the other is damn near a 2PPG player.

McDavid exceeded expectations and turned holes at 17 into strengths at 25.

Arguably we could get better at this part as an organization, but hopefully Perreault works through his warts.

 

[Machinehead]

Maybe, but his prospect model is butt.

Eh, I feel like this is case where there's no such thing as "good" without having a crystal ball.

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

I knew Patrick before he was a big shot in the analytics community. He knows his stuff.

Rubs me the wrong way because of when he quote tweeted Lundqvist's retirement post and said he was overrated and just an above average goalie. You're entitled to your (wrong) opinion but literally quote tweeting the retirement post 5 minutes after the guy announces his retirement?

Also Othmann having a 2% chance of becoming an NHLer per his model because of Othmann's weak stats in the Swiss league during Covid and continuing to double down on it over the past couple years is weird. Is it that hard to admit that maybe it was a blind spot in his model? Seems like too many analytics guys online are like that.

 

[Luger]

It’s not a crucify. It’s a simple observation based on tangible information. The guy is already known for being very small and, he can’t skate. Even in his “highlight package” during the draft he toe picked crossing the blue line and managed to get up quick enough to get a shot off. Let’s be real, that’s not really a “highlight real” goal. The pick looks awful on paper and will likely look worse in reality. You can go find every advanced stat out there but how many 5 foot 7, 160 pounders are currently in the NHL???

There once was a 140 pound 18 year old who didn't get drafted because he was small and not fast, but had a very high IQ. I forgot his name. Wayne something. Wore #99. Anybody remember him anymore?

IQ is more important than any other quality, not some highlight reel goal.

 

[Levitate]

To be fair the skating trauma here isn't exclusive to Laf. From Andersson, Kravtsov, Kakko, Laf, we've rolled the dice on a lot of high picks who aren't speedy.

If it was anyone else than the BPA I'd be pissed. But it was the BPA

but at 23 I'm happy to roll the dice on overall talent rather than "skates well but has questions about his overall offensive game"

especially when one of his best traits sounds like it's hockey IQ

I also think Laf is a pretty good skater and his issues haven't come from any skating issues. He's had trouble figuring out how to fit into a line and use his talents but if that clicks I don't think skating is going to hold him back at all

Kakko improved his skating a lot and is great with his edges and elusiveness with the puck and in tight. His issue has been developing a bit better instinct to shoot and score and make his decisions a bit faster

I still think both of those guys could show a big leap in development and ability with a more hands on coach.

Also, if he didn't have any NHL level skills Laf wouldn't have score nearly 20 goals 2 years ago and nearly 40 points this past year. It's disappointing for a #1 overall but guys who dont' have NHL level skills just...don't make the NHL and if they get a chance they don't score that much at all.

 

[Machinehead]

Rubs me the wrong way because of when he quote tweeted Lundqvist's retirement post and said he was overrated and just an above average goalie. You're entitled to your (wrong) opinion but literally quote tweeting the retirement post 5 minutes after the guy announces his retirement?

Also Othmann having a 2% chance of becoming an NHLer per his model because of Othmann's weak stats in the Swiss league during Covid and continuing to double down on it over the past couple years is weird. Is it that hard to admit that maybe it was a blind spot in his model? Seems like too many analytics guys online are like that.

Yeah, I don't know what the hair up his ass is with Lundqvist. The Garden was known to fluff shot quality a little bit, sure, but we have arena-adjusted analytics. They don't affect his overall numbers that much.

 

[duhmetreE]

Yeah, I don't know what the hair up his ass is with Lundqvist. The Garden was known to fluff shot quality a little bit, sure, but we have arena-adjusted analytics. They don't affect his overall numbers that much.

There’s no excuse for shitting on Lundqvist.

He’s the best goalie of the generation and it’s not even close.

 

[Machinehead]

There’s no excuse for shitting on Lundqvist.

He’s the best goalie of the generation and it’s not even close.

I used to tell him all the time he just doesn't like Lundqvist but he never told me why.

Like how @GoAwayPanarin just doesn't like Zuccarello, but at least he admitted that.

 

[Machinehead]

I only dislike players with bad analytics so I never have this problem.

Like this piece of shit:

Imagine being this mid.

 

[80s Kid]

It’s not a crucify. It’s a simple observation based on tangible information. The guy is already known for being very small and, he can’t skate. Even in his “highlight package” during the draft he toe picked crossing the blue line and managed to get up quick enough to get a shot off. Let’s be real, that’s not really a “highlight real” goal. The pick looks awful on paper and will likely look worse in reality. You can go find every advanced stat out there but how many 5 foot 7, 160 pounders are currently in the NHL???

Seriously? He's 18 years old. Pretty sure he's going to put on weight and he's closer to 5'11". Plenty of successful players under 6'.

 

[Levitate]

real good offense and bad defense?

e: B. Tkachuk that is

iirc isn't Bacon's model for prospects basically entirely predicated on how many points a player scores at a certain age and not particularly adjusted for other things

 

[Hunter Gathers]

Eh, I feel like this is case where there's no such thing as "good" without having a crystal ball.

Then why even use it? He's putting out an OBJECTIVELY shit model to build his brand and raise his profile.

It's not remotely ready for prime time. It's pre-alpha, lol.

He needs to just take this down.

 

[GENESISPuck94]

Rangers didn't get cute here. Swung for the fences and I love it. Going to be so much fun to watch this kid at BC. He's going there with Will Smith and Ryan Leonard, so that trio could very well continue to pile up the points. Let him get stronger and become a man over the next 2-3 years and we very well could have a real impact player on our hands when he's ready to make the jump.

Seeing "deceased" next to Cherepanov's name is heart breaking man.