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

[LiveLongandProspal]

The real question is what do we have available to pick up a 2nd rounder

Barclay Goodrow and our third rounder?

 

[RangerBoy]

“His vision and how he can read the game is at a very high level. The way he reads, what he sees, where he knows the play is going, how he can anticipate the play to develop on both sides, the obvious is what you see watching the game on the offensive side but the same can be said for the defensive side. He can anticipate where players are going to go next with the puck and because of that he can position himself really well,” Muse said.

“And then you combine that with the skill set that he has and obviously it has led to a lot of points. And he’s still tracking back, he’s still being detailed, and he creates offence that way too. It’s not just with time and space, it’s also coming back off the track in transition and that part of his game has come a long way.”

Behind Gabe Perreault's history-making 2023 NHL Draft rise: 'Skill you can't teach'

Perreault's historic run of production with the U.S. NTDP has made him one of the top prospects in the 2023 NHL Draft.

theathletic.com

Jason Bukala's scouting report: Elite offensive forward with fantastic puck touch. Slips off checks in tight quarters. Deceptive and creative. Especially dangerous on the PP.

Skating has room for more power, but his mechanics are sound. Three zone detail has ranged, but his year-end effort and detail (at U18 Worlds) was the best it has been all season.

Prospect of Interest: USNTDP record holder Gabe Perreault

Gabe Perreault has NHL bloodlines but is fully capable of carving out his own NHL path. And after a record-setting season for the USNTDP, he's an interesting player to watch in Round 1.

www.sportsnet.ca

 

[EdJovanovski]

 

[GENESISPuck94]

Watching video and I think the skating thing is being blown way out of proportion. You'd think by the talk that he's new born Bambi on ice.

He has a short stride, that can be fixed, but I see him creating separation in a lot of these videos, and seems to use his edges well.

The stick work and vision are impressive. Shot is quick and deceptive.

I think we got ourselves a good one. In a couple years I think some teams are going to be kicking themselves.

 

[will1066]

 

[Sayba]

I wanted a guy who could skate and wasn’t allergic to contact before the draft.

 

[Kakko Schmakko]

nice steal. Hopefully not the next Pavel Brendl.

 

[Synergy27]

Watching video and I think the skating thing is being blown way out of proportion. You'd think by the talk that he's new born Bambi on ice.

He has a short stride, that can be fixed, but I see him creating separation in a lot of these videos, and seems to use his edges well.

The stick work and vision are impressive. Shot is quick and deceptive.

I think we got ourselves a good one. In a couple years I think some teams are going to be kicking themselves.

#badskater

 

[Kakko Schmakko]

maybe his dad will hang around the team and teach faceoffs. his dad was an amazing faceoff guy lol.

none of his 3 sons are Centers...

 

[TGWL]

I hope I am wrong here but not a fan of this pick and his fit with us. I don't doubt he is skilled, just don't think he was what we needed. They need speed, team needs to get faster.
Panarin, Perreault, Lafreniere, Kakko and Othmann all are on the slow side. Which means 5 of our top 6 wingers are slow. Kreider is the only one of our top 6 wings with speed and he stands net front.

The problem with saying the team needs to get faster is these picks aren't immediately on the roster. If in 3-4 years you're planning on making the team faster, you're probably out of a job by then.

 

[Captain Monglobster]

Dont have to skate to win faceoffs. Make this kid a C its in his blood damnit!

 

[Barnaby]

“He’s awesome. He’s a guy you look forward to seeing every day. He’s a super competitive kid. Really competitive in terms of anything we’re doing, small area games or anything – he’s going to try to win. That’s the way that Gabe is. He’s a guy who loves being in the rink. He loves being with his teammates. Those are the people you want to work with every day.” – Team USA U18 head coach Dan Muse, April 2023

To your point it's awesome hearing that from a guy who knows him very well. That's certainly something that was missing from some recent picks like Lias and Kravtsov. Maybe Lafreniere as well to a degree if rumors can be believed. (Not putting Lafreniere in the Lias/Krav camp, but you know what I mean).

 

[GENESISPuck94]

Man he blew all those numbers away soundly.

 

[Quinnisinoverhishead]

This guy is filthy! Finally!!!!
Excited!

 

[McRanger92]

Guy was mocked top 10 but falls to us at 23 and now he “can’t skate”. Never change HF

 

[Savant]

Where is he playing next year?

 

[McRanger92]

“He’s awesome. He’s a guy you look forward to seeing every day. He’s a super competitive kid. Really competitive in terms of anything we’re doing, small area games or anything – he’s going to try to win. That’s the way that Gabe is. He’s a guy who loves being in the rink. He loves being with his teammates. Those are the people you want to work with every day.” – Team USA U18 head coach Dan Muse, April 2023

To your point it's awesome hearing that from a guy who knows him very well. That's certainly something that was missing from some recent picks like Lias and Kravtsov. Maybe Lafreniere as well to a degree if rumors can be believed. (Not putting Lafreniere in the Lias/Krav camp, but you know what I mean).

Muse’s input was probably invaluable for this pick. Said it last week when he was hired, keep an eye out for one of the USNDTP kids. Pleasant surprise for an otherwise boring off-season

 

[GENESISPuck94]

#badskater

Yea that's what I'm seeing in all the videos. His skating is not detrimental at all. Talk about blowing things out of proportion. He's easily a better skater than Fox. And Fox does just fine. Way better skater than Stepan ever was.

I am excited about this pick. No wonder the Rangers practically ran to the podium and said nothing but the selection.

 

[UnSandvich]

Where is he playing next year?

Boston College iirc

 

[Synergy27]

#badskater

 

[Hunter Gathers]

I mean, look. I was very surprised he was available. And it was a very easy pick to make.

No brainer at 23.

 

[Kords]

Big takeaway from tonight is that I still don’t miss Gorts or his scout bros.

 

[hardnosed]

You say we currently lack speed players, which is true. But we also have a few guys with rocks between their ears. Getting a high IQ type is kinda nice.

 

[Lion Hound]

Redline;

12.) Gabriel Perruault - US NTDP - LW

Super smart with hockey sense off the charts. He both creates and finishes at top speed. Initiates most of the scoring plays for the US NTDP’s top line. Makes so many subtle, skilled set-up plays. Has an uncanny sense of where all his teammates are on the ice and how to get them the puck in dangerous spots. Just a highly innovative mind. Makes sublime little delay moves to buy time and space for his line makes to jump into holes, then dishes perfect feeds with fantastic touch off both sides of the blade. Lacks the explosive, game breaking speed of his linemates, but is highly elusive; sharp cuts and change of direction makes him slippery as an eel. Great instincts and and anticipation around the offensive zone. A chess master who thinks 9 moves ahead of opponents and knows where the puck will go next. Can get pushed off pucks when engaged in 50-50’s, but doggedly works to regain possession.

Projection: Highly Intelligent, creative top line winger.
Style Compares to: Jesper Bratt

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Big takeaway from tonight is that I still don’t miss Gorts or his scout bros.

Montreal taking a euro with Bobrov on staff is reason for them to panic.