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

[GENESISPuck94]

This will not be a popular opinion but I thought Gallant destroyed Kravtsov.
I felt when he returned he was really trying to show he had changed and Gallant had no patience or want. Drury could have been forcing Gallant’s hand and Gallant was just going through the motions.
Then Kravtsov had the three minor injuries to start the season and his fate was sealed.
When he got to Vancouver I agree that he was done, just waiting to get back home.
Felt the same way of Gallant’s handling of Morgan Barron.

Gallant's handling of all the Rangers young forwards.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

People saying he has more skill than Stepan, i dunno, i think people forget how good Stepan was, he may but Stepan was all skill and iq, didn't have speed or size and totally relied on his iq and hands. I think he might actually be a good comparable as far as where he ends up imo.

 

[kovazub94]

Cuylle, Othmann, Berard, Sykora, BMB, Chmelar, Edstrom etc, I.e. the next waive of forwards we look to become the core. Yeah we concentrate on weaknesses at C but Perrault definitely stands out from this group and brings a toolset that was also missing in the prospects pipeline.

 

[Savant]

Cuylle, Othmann, Berard, Sykora, BMB, Chmelar, Edstrom etc, I.e. the next waive of forwards we look to become the core. Yeah we concentrate on weaknesses at C but Perrault definitely stands out from this group and brings a toolset that was also missing in the prospects pipeline.

It’s a decent group, but (regardless of position) they need to get some more finishers in there. A ton of pass first guys and energy guys. Need some shooters, and some speed

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Cuylle, Othmann, Berard, Sykora, BMB, Chmelar, Edstrom etc, I.e. the next waive of forwards we look to become the core. Yeah we concentrate on weaknesses at C but Perrault definitely stands out from this group and brings a toolset that was also missing in the prospects pipeline.

Its a dumb thing to focus on buttttttt...

For all the players who people have wish casted converting to a center, Perreault may actually be the one who makes sense if you want a traditional "play making" center. I don't think its necessary as play making wingers do exist and have existed for a while (your C doesn't need to play that role) but if you're looking to try to shoe horn someone into that role who isn't already a C, he could probably do it.

We're really lucky to have snagged him where we did. I look at some of the forwards drafted ahead of him and really wonder wtf those teams were thinking (Minnesota in particular.) I'd probably take him comfortably over every forward picked from 9 onwards outside of Benson (who was a steal) and Barlow.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Its a dumb thing to focus on buttttttt...

For all the players who people have wish casted converting to a center, Perreault may actually be the one who makes sense if you want a traditional "play making" center. I don't think its necessary as play making wingers do exist and have existed for a while (your C doesn't need to play that role) but if you're looking to try to shoe horn someone into that role who isn't already a C, he could probably do it.

We're really lucky to have snagged him where we did. I look at some of the forwards drafted ahead of him and really wonder wtf those teams were thinking (Minnesota in particular.) I'd probably take him comfortably over every forward picked from 9 onwards outside of Benson (who was a steal) and Barlow.

if he was drafted by literally any other franchise, there would be hope that he could be tried out at center.

With the Rangers ,who are just now catching up to year 2000 NHL thinking, theres no chance.

 

[NYRKing]

I like the Geunzel comp if he actually can get to that level. Just a very cerebral player.

I like the Geunzel comp if he actually can get to that level. Just a very cerebral player

 

[duhmetreE]

I like the Geunzel comp if he actually can get to that level. Just a very cerebral player.

I like the Geunzel comp if he actually can get to that level. Just a very cerebral player

Zucc might be a better comp, stylistically.

 

[Irishguy42]

Zucc might be a better comp, stylistically.

I like the Geunzel comp if he actually can get to that level. Just a very cerebral player

 

[duhmetreE]

I like the Geunzel comp if he actually can get to that level. Just a very cerebral player

I just don’t see that comp. Is Gabe going to be that type of finisher?

Panarin maybe?

Side note- Has his skating improved at all?

 

[Irishguy42]

I just don’t see that comp. Is Gabe going to be that type of finisher?

Panarin maybe?

Side note- Has his skating improved at all?

idk I was just randomly copying and pasting text since the post above was multi-posting the text and it seemed fun to do.

 

[RangersFan1994]

Rangers 2023 top pick Gabe Perreault named Rookie of the Week - Forever Blueshirts

Rangers 2023 top pick Gabe Perreault named Rookie of the Week

dlvr.it

 

[romba]

People saying he has more skill than Stepan, i dunno, i think people forget how good Stepan was, he may but Stepan was all skill and iq, didn't have speed or size and totally relied on his iq and hands. I think he might actually be a good comparable as far as where he ends up imo.

iirc Stepan didn't have great hands, they were not bad. Elite hands likely would have put him over the top and closer to PPG, like Fox. Stepan's vision and passing were borderline elite and his brain and positioning were excellent. I was much younger watching him play though and my understanding of the game was basically what JD or Joe told me lol

I remember Stepan's first game hat trick and thinking "Playmaker shmaymaker, we got ourselves a Rocket candidate!"

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

idk I was just randomly copying and pasting text since the post above was multi-posting the text and it seemed fun to do.

I like the Geunzel comp if he actually can get to that level. Just a very cerebral player.

 

[CaptTennille]

People saying he has more skill than Stepan, i dunno, i think people forget how good Stepan was, he may but Stepan was all skill and iq, didn't have speed or size and totally relied on his iq and hands. I think he might actually be a good comparable as far as where he ends up imo.

Perreault also reminds me of Stepan in that they both have/had a tendency to take strange(for lack of a better term) routes in the offensive zone to create space for their linemates and create confusion.

 

[Levitate]

iirc Stepan didn't have great hands, they were not bad. Elite hands likely would have put him over the top and closer to PPG, like Fox. Stepan's vision and passing were borderline elite and his brain and positioning were excellent. I was much younger watching him play though and my understanding of the game was basically what JD or Joe told me lol

I remember Stepan's first game hat trick and thinking "Playmaker shmaymaker, we got ourselves a Rocket candidate!"

Yeah Stepan was a real interesting player. Even his passing wasn't like "I'm gonna pull the most ridiculous pass you've ever seen and weren't expecting", he wasn't even a Panarin line passer, he just...got shit done somehow. He knew what plays to make and when and how to get himself to where he needed to be.

e: in my limited viewing Perreault seems a better skater and a bit more dynamic than Stepan was. That doesn't necessarily translate to a better NHLer but the potential is there

 

[TopShelfSnipes]

kreider isn’t a traditional goal scorer. his shot is honestly quite mediocre. he’s a master at being a great net front presence, both tipping the puck and cleaning up the trash. he can also score breakaways with his great speed. but rarely does he just shoot it past a goalie. kreider is a bit unusual in this day and age.

Exactly. He's John LeClair.

Not many like that nowadays.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Yeah Stepan was a real interesting player. Even his passing wasn't like "I'm gonna pull the most ridiculous pass you've ever seen and weren't expecting", he wasn't even a Panarin line passer, he just...got shit done somehow. He knew what plays to make and when and how to get himself to where he needed to be.

e: in my limited viewing Perreault seems a better skater and a bit more dynamic than Stepan was. That doesn't necessarily translate to a better NHLer but the potential is there

Stepan was one of the least athletic people I've ever seen in any pro sports. Everything he did looked clunky and unnatural but as you said, he made it work.

Gabe is wayyyyy more smooth with his movements and Gabe is way more capable of the ridiculous pass that you aren't expecting. He is going to be near or at the top of the league in where the f*** is that pass goi- ohhhhhhh thats where it's going/60.

For that, I see some of the Zuccarello comparisons too. The G7 pass to Carcillo vs Philly remains one of the top wtf moments I've ever seen.

 

[2014nyr]

I just don’t see that comp. Is Gabe going to be that type of finisher?

Panarin maybe?

Side note- Has his skating improved at all?

his skating was never really a big issue. he needs to add some leg strength but that's just physical development. he's had 0 issues adjusting to the pace of college hockey. he's actually a pretty strong skater where it matters....like in/out of starts/stops he's got great body control/controls pucks and a good first step he can take in any direction that creates separation for himself, he's good on his edges and maintaining his speed into/out of turns/cuts, he's quick enough/extremely smart using his stick to win short area races to pucks, and he's got plenty of pace to where he can control play at the ncaa level already.

i mean sure he's not paval bure or connor mcdavid, but i've always felt the skating concerns had no merit. felt more like a thought someone put out there that turned into a narrative via groupthink. he doesn't play a speed game anyway, but his skating / the pace he does have are more than adequate for the game he plays.

as far as comparisons....i don't see much of guentzel, he's more of a finisher. i think in terms of playing style someone like claude giroux or kucherov maybe. he's sort of a rover that can create offense from anywhere on the ice. not saying he reaches those levels, just as stylistic comparisons they're guys who don't dominate with speed but are always around the puck. kuch esp has a lethal one timer that doesn't line up, but in terms of how he creates with his mind rather than pace/how good he is at finding pucks/smarts in winning puck battles and the ability to find the open man and move them quickly i see similarities.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

his skating was never really a big issue. he needs to add some leg strength but that's just physical development. he's had 0 issues adjusting to the pace of college hockey. he's actually a pretty strong skater where it matters....like in/out of starts/stops he's got great body control/controls pucks and a good first step he can take in any direction that creates separation for himself, he's good on his edges and maintaining his speed into/out of turns/cuts, he's quick enough/extremely smart using his stick to win short area races to pucks, and he's got plenty of pace to where he can control play at the ncaa level already.

i mean sure he's not paval bure or connor mcdavid, but i've always felt the skating concerns had no merit. felt more like a thought someone put out there that turned into a narrative via groupthink. he doesn't play a speed game anyway, but his skating / the pace he does have are more than adequate for the game he plays.

as far as comparisons....i don't see much of guentzel, he's more of a finisher. i think in terms of playing style someone like claude giroux or kucherov maybe. he's sort of a rover that can create offense from anywhere on the ice. not saying he reaches those levels, just as stylistic comparisons they're guys who don't dominate with speed but are always around the puck. kuch esp has a lethal one timer that doesn't line up, but in terms of how he creates with his mind rather than pace/how good he is at finding pucks/smarts in winning puck battles and the ability to find the open man and move them quickly i see similarities.

Giroux may be the best comp I’ve seen so far.

Never crossed my mind until I read it.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Giroux may be the best comp I’ve seen so far.

Never crossed my mind until I read it.

How does he compare to Panarin?

 

[Rangers in 7]

i actually really like the giroux comparison, their games are very similar

 

[rangersfansince08]

i actually really like the giroux comparison, their games are very similar

He has point per game or point per game + potential in your opinion?

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

He has point per game or point per game + potential in your opinion?

I think it was more a stylistic comparison

 

[Rangers in 7]

He has point per game or point per game + potential in your opinion?

hes currently averaging over a ppg as a freshman at BC, he has the skills.

will he become a ppg player at the nhl level? who knows. but he definitely has the skillset to be there