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

[JCProdigy]

Not sure why. He’s not a bad skater by any means.

At the college level he's adequate. It's the one thing that I'm personally most concerned with when he makes the jump. Can he keep up with the pace of play and will he be effective in the realm of guys like Panarin and Fox when he slows the game down. We just won't know until he makes the jump.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Even if the NYR needed forwards, I believe it would be a horrible idea to rush him. I personally don't think introducing him to the NHL with playoff hockey being his first game action (with no camp) would be putting the top prospect in the best position to succeed.

We did it with Kreider though. I know he was a freak physically so maybe it's different.

 

[mrmovies779]

Still can't believe this kid fell in our laps at draft night...what the hell were other teams scouts doing.evidently not their job

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Never say never, but it's highly unlikely. For one it's a lot to ask of anyone and secondly, as you said, there likely won't be a spot for him.

But ELC slated to start next year and AHL PTO? Yeah 100%

If he truly is up to 178 lbs then he should have little trouble getting to 180+ by the start of camp next year which is basically the baseline I wanted him to hit before making the jump to pro hockey.

The only way I see him signing an ELC that kicks in right away is if he and his agent fight for it. But even then I don't see him playing much.

If that's the case, his ELC would only be 2 years and expire in 2027, but he would be a group 10.2(c) RFA, which means he isn't eligible to sign an offer sheet. Could be beneficial.

We did it with Kreider though. I know he was a freak physically so maybe it's different.

He was also a year older. And joining a team that needed help on offence. Perreault doesn't really bring anything this team needs. Their top-9 is set.

 

[GAGLine]

Perreault doesn't really bring anything this team needs. Their top-9 is set.

Injuries could change that, but yeah, as of right now, I don't see a spot for Perreault.

Whether Perreault signs for this year or next, I hope he plays games with Hartford.

 

[Mike in Houston]

The only way I see him signing an ELC that kicks in right away is if he and his agent fight for it. But even then I don't see him playing much.

If that's the case, his ELC would only be 2 years and expire in 2027, but he would be a group 10.2(c) RFA, which means he isn't eligible to sign an offer sheet. Could be beneficial.



He was also a year older. And joining a team that needed help on offence. Perreault doesn't really bring anything this team needs. Their top-9 is set.

And Hagelin had just got suspended for his elbow on Alfredsson.

 

[MysticLeviathan]

as we’ve seen with fox, iq can overcome physical disadvantages. I hope we continue to draft more for iq than most anything else.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Perreault, Hagens Claim Hockey East Weekly Awards - Boston College Athletics

Perreault and Hagens played key roles in a weekend sweep of No. 10 St. Cloud State

bceagles.com

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

And Hagelin had just got suspended for his elbow on Alfredsson.

Yes! I forgot to include that. The stars aligned for Kreider to simply step in.

But Perreault at the moment will have a hard time adjusting to the NHL, especially in the play-offs. He's small and not the fastest skater. Let him marinate a bit in the AHL.

 

[egelband]

There’s a contingent of US hockey fans on the prospect boards that are Gabe Perrault haters. One of them said this last year - I was just mocking them!

Every hockey fan has an opinion when it comes to the rangers. Not a lot of objective eyes on main HF.

 

[egelband]

Even if the NYR needed forwards, I believe it would be a horrible idea to rush him. I personally don't think introducing him to the NHL with playoff hockey being his first game action (with no camp) would be putting the top prospect in the best position to succeed.

Good point. When Kreider did it he was man-size and I imagine he was pretty familiar with physical play.

 

[Machinehead]

Still can't believe this kid fell in our laps at draft night...what the hell were other teams scouts doing.evidently not their job

The top 5-10 is usually pretty clean. Once you get into the mid first round, a lot of teams start outsmarting themselves.

Perreault was the BPA for like nine picks, but everyone has to reinvent the wheel for the fantasy of finding something nobody else saw.

The Rangers were the poster boys for doing that and it was refreshing to see us just click the name at the top of the list for once.

 

[Machinehead]

Speaking of which, you know who's becoming pretty good? Most obvious pick in the pick in the world Casey Mittelstadt.

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

Speaking of which, you know who's becoming pretty good? Most obvious pick in the pick in the world Casey Mittelstadt.

Buffalo curse

Anyone who leaves gets better

 

[noncents]

Buffalo curse

Anyone who leaves gets better

more like talented players put in a position to succeed play well.

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

more like talented players put in a position to succeed play well.

same difference

 

[noncents]

same difference

the former being a specific application of the latter, yes.

 

[eco's bones]

Perreault's not the fastest of skaters but he's got really good edges/maneuverability and outstanding hockey IQ. I don't see Gabriel pushing any of our top 9 out come this year's playoffs but I do think he could be in our top 9 by 25-26. The most obvious guy he could replace is Reilly Smith who is only signed for this year and will be 34 next year. He's a better prospect and at least as ready now if not more ready than Othmann or Berard IMO.

His addition into our top 9 next year also would make it much easier for us to absorb Igor's new contract. I'm thinking he's not going to need much AHL time if any at all. If you compare him to someone like Derek Stepan who came straight out of college to the NHL and like Perreault with some skating issues---Perreault is just a better and higher IQ player and Stepan had a really good first year for us.

 

[GAGLine]

Buffalo curse

Anyone who leaves gets better

He had success in Buffalo his last 2 years there, but they didn't want to pay him.

He got less ice time last year (both EV and PP) with Colorado than he did Buffalo. He's getting the ice time this year because of injuries and is doing well. Good on him, but it's a small sample size. It's too early to say that they made a mistake.

 

[JCProdigy]

Good point. When Kreider did it he was man-size and I imagine he was pretty familiar with physical play.

...and have to remember back then, Torts probably told him to just keep his game simple. Use speed, North/South. Disrupt along boards with size. Torts also said that while he played great at times, he was still god-awful on the d-side in those playoffs.

I just don't think the introduction of Gabe and the type of player he is, into the NHL with the intensity and speed of the playoffs is best for him/the team.

Even if there were injury(s) to the top nine. I mean, what do we actually think his inclusion would accomplish? That he would come in and send us to the promised land? If the NYR aren't winning a Stanley Cup with their current forward group, I just don't see them winning it by removing one of the wings and replacing with a rookie Perreault playing in his first ever games.