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

[SnowblindNYR]

I thought he had some chippiness in his game and elite skill.

When did Ryan Callahan have elite skill?

 

[noncents]

I thought he had some chippiness in his game and elite skill.

don't think you're thinking of the right player. Perreault has the record for most points in a single USNTDP season, notably eclipsing Auston Matthews. he's a genius on the ice, seeing seams no one else sees, threading the puck to them, and scoring with a canny shot.

he's willing to go into the dirty areas and to the net. he has been tossed from games for hits to the head. his skating is fine but not great. he competes but has a slight/wiry frame. he plays very well with other great players.


he is almost nothing like Ryan Callahan

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

don't think you're thinking of the right player. Perreault has the record for most points in a single USNTDP season, notably eclipsing Auston Matthews. he's a genius on the ice, seeing seams no one else sees, threading the puck to them, and scoring with a canny shot.

he's willing to go into the dirty areas and to the net. he has been tossed from games for hits to the head. his skating is fine but not great. he competes but has a slight/wiry frame. he plays very well with other great players.


he is almost nothing like Ryan Callahan

If Ryan Callahan had Perreault's brain and hands he would have been everyone's favorite player of all time.

I'll maintain that no one had Callahan's motor. Dude redlined his body to an early retirement but thats what he needed to do to stick in this league.

 

[noncents]

If Ryan Callahan had Perreault's brain and hands he would have been everyone's favorite player of all time.

I'll maintain that no one had Callahan's motor. Dude redlined his body to an early retirement but thats what he needed to do to stick in this league.

none of that was to take away from cally. loved watching 24 play

 

[bhamill]

Perrault is the forward version of Fox.

It's the comp I agree with most, but of course the caveat is apples and oranges as to position.

 

[Ranger Ric]

Another potential replacement for Will Smith:

https://x.com/i/web/status/1798439562680963243

 

[jay from jersey]

don't think you're thinking of the right player. Perreault has the record for most points in a single USNTDP season, notably eclipsing Auston Matthews. he's a genius on the ice, seeing seams no one else sees, threading the puck to them, and scoring with a canny shot.

he's willing to go into the dirty areas and to the net. he has been tossed from games for hits to the head. his skating is fine but not great. he competes but has a slight/wiry frame. he plays very well with other great players.


he is almost nothing like Ryan Callahan

That’s my favorite part of this kids game.
His absolute relentless towards the puck to finish an offensive play.
No matter where the puck is on the ice, whether it’s in the paint, high slot, behind the net, etc
He’s like a dog with a bone until the goal light goes off….
He needs some bulk/size to add to his frame, but if that translates to NHL ( it should)
He’s going to be quite a treat to watch and a down right dangerous offensive player…
The hands, vision, hockey IQ, Hunger, etc are all there and all on display already.
Still a head scratcher how he fell to us so late.

I haven’t had more hype/expectations about any player that wasn’t drafted top 5(comes with the territory)
Since Cherepanov…
A legitimate top 5 talent, that some how fell to us

 

[GAGLine]

Another potential replacement for Will Smith:

https://x.com/i/web/status/1798439562680963243

Letourneau could get selected in the range we're picking. He's another big dude who can skate.

 

[RangersFan1994]

Letourneau could get selected in the range we're picking. He's another big dude who can skate.

And he's a center which is a need. Does he play physical, does he take a hit to make a play or is he like most of the Rangers big players that play small and poke check instead of using the body? Is he good along the boards? Is he good on front of the net reflecting pucks? What's his upside?

 

[SnowblindNYR]

And he's a center which is a need. Does he play physical, does he take a hit to make a play or is he like most of the Rangers big players that play small and poke check instead of using the body? Is he good along the boards? Is he good on front of the net reflecting pucks? What's his upside?

The Panthers destroyed Rangers' fans psyche. Every move is seen from the lense of the series against this one team.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

The Panthers destroyed Rangers' fans psyche. Every move is seen from the lense of the series against this one team.

I don’t think the Panthers are responsible for this one lol.

 

[GAGLine]

And he's a center which is a need. Does he play physical, does he take a hit to make a play or is he like most of the Rangers big players that play small and poke check instead of using the body? Is he good along the boards? Is he good on front of the net reflecting pucks? What's his upside?

I haven't watched him play. From the scouting reports, it seems like he is still learning to use his size, but he's really good in front of the net and on the cycle.

It should be noted that he has been playing in high-school prep. He was supposed to play some USHL games at the end of the season, but he got hurt. So, the scouts aren't sure how well he really compares to prospects who have played against tougher competition.

Edit: Here's a clip of him throwing a hit:

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Would Ryan Callahan be a good comp for Perreault? He seems to be always involved and has compete level. Seems a gritty physical player with skill?

No

 

[n8]

I haven't watched him play. From the scouting reports, it seems like he is still learning to use his size, but he's really good in front of the net and on the cycle.

It should be noted that he has been playing in high-school prep. He was supposed to play some USHL games at the end of the season, but he got hurt. So, the scouts aren't sure how well he really compares to prospects who have played against tougher competition.

Edit: Here's a clip of him throwing a hit:

Isn't 1OA James Hagens playing at Boston College this season too? BC has no shortage of Will Smith replacements.

 

[GAGLine]

Isn't 1OA James Hagens playing at Boston College this season too? BC has no shortage of Will Smith replacements.

Yes. BC should be very strong again this year.

 

[Vitto79]

Isn't 1OA James Hagens playing at Boston College this season too? BC has no shortage of Will Smith replacements.

I’d prefer Perrault dominate without a top linemate but yea he’s gonna play with good players still

 

[n8]

I’d prefer Perrault dominate without a top linemate but yea he’s gonna play with good players still

80 point season, LFG!

 

[The Crypto Guy]

I’d prefer Perrault dominate without a top linemate but yea he’s gonna play with good players still

Good players play with good players. He’ll be playing with them in the NHL.

 

[Machinehead]

When did Ryan Callahan have elite skill?

In Junior B.

 

[eco's bones]

College coaches coach to win like pretty much everybody else. BC went to the final game of the NCAA championship last year and lost to Denver U. They're going to want to win it all this year and Perreault and Leonard are going to be linemates and the 3rd guy on the line is going to be a really good player. You can pretty much bet on it and that's the way it should be. Also there's a very good likelihood that this will be BC's last kick at the can with these two players so the idea for them will be to make the most of it. Anything else would be dumb.

 

[gravey9]

Something to keep in mind for this year's deadline -- Perreault is likely coming out of college at the end of this year. Which means, he could join the Hartford or the NHL when BC's year is over. Will he be physically ready to turn pro? I dunno. But there's a chance he'll be helping HFD or NYR end of this year if he has a similar year and is healthy.

 

[HFsNumber1Heel]

Something to keep in mind for this year's deadline -- Perreault is likely coming out of college at the end of this year. Which means, he could join the Hartford or the NHL when BC's year is over. Will he be physically ready to turn pro? I dunno. But there's a chance he'll be helping HFD or NYR end of this year if he has a similar year and is healthy.

He should stay two more years IMHO.

 

[GAGLine]

He should stay two more years IMHO.

The biggest thing for Perreault is maturing physically. That may take two more years, but he doesn't need to spend both of those years in college. Stepan only played 2 years at Wisconsin, and he was by no means a big, physical player.

Perreault has the skills and the smarts to play at any level. If he needs to get stronger, let him do it while playing in the AHL. They play more games, but mostly on the weekends like college, and he won't have to worry about classes. He can just focus on hockey. The sooner he gets a taste of pro hockey, the sooner he'll know what he needs to work on to be an NHL player.

 

[eco's bones]

When Gabriel comes out hopefully it'll be straight to the Rangers.This guy is a level above our other best forward prospects and already even players that he's younger than like Othmann and Berard. He should be a legit 1st line player. I don't see that for any of our other forward prospects.

His issues were his skating and size and strength. His skating has improved quite a bit.....that was apparent at the WJC's. When you look at a guy like the Bruins Matthew Poitras who has a similar frame and plays a same kind of game Perreault is better than him in just about every way. I'm not sure size and strength are going to be that big an issue by the end of this year.

 

[HFsNumber1Heel]

The biggest thing for Perreault is maturing physically. That may take two more years, but he doesn't need to spend both of those years in college. Stepan only played 2 years at Wisconsin, and he was by no means a big, physical player.

Perreault has the skills and the smarts to play at any level. If he needs to get stronger, let him do it while playing in the AHL. They play more games, but mostly on the weekends like college, and he won't have to worry about classes. He can just focus on hockey. The sooner he gets a taste of pro hockey, the sooner he'll know what he needs to work on to be an NHL player.

My biggest thing for him is making sure he's ready for the physical grind and playing him in a position where he can succeed with the right players. In two years more roles will be open and we'll know if Kakko is still around and have good indications on Cullye's upside, and where Berard/Othmann are.

It's all about maximizing roster usage plus cap.