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

[The Crypto Guy]

Gabe ended with a goal and assist in a 3-1 win. 4 points over the last 2 games. He’s back from the WJC hangover.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Here was his assist, he’s so good at freezing goalies like he’s going to shoot it and instead making a perfect pass

 

[kovazub94]

Here was his assist, he’s so good at freezing goalies like he’s going to shoot it and instead making a perfect pass

Yup and because he shoots too so goalies must commit to either (or even better if they hesitate).

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Gabe with 3 apples tonight in the big game vs BU.

7 points in the last 3 games.

Pulling away as the point leader on BC with 31 points in 22 games. 2nd and 3rd place players only have 25 points (Leonard and Hagens).

3rd in the NCAA in points per game.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

No points for Gabe yesterday in the back to back BU vs BC game but they won 2-0 (including an EN) so goals were hard to come by.

He did however play by far the most out of all forwards on BC with over 22 minutes of ice, nobody else even had 20 minutes. They are using him all over the place which is great.

 

[Synergy27]

No points for Gabe yesterday in the back to back BU vs BC game but they won 2-0 (including an EN) so goals were hard to come by.

He did however play by far the most out of all forwards on BC with over 22 minutes of ice, nobody else even had 20 minutes. They are using him all over the place which is great.

He’s still being carried by Will Smith IMO.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Gabe with a goal so far tonight, ugly goal off his skate but they all count the same!

 

[JCProdigy]

Honestly, Gabe and his line hasn't looked that great the last few games after the one great game. A lot of his nifty passes haven't been hitting their target, and he seems to be forcing it a little. I'm sure he'll snap out of it and the line will have to figure it out because Leonard's line has been looking great in the same timeframe.

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

Honestly, Gabe and his line hasn't looked that great the last few games after the one great game. A lot of his nifty passes haven't been hitting their target, and he seems to be forcing it a little. I'm sure he'll snap out of it and the line will have to figure it out because Leonard's line has been looking great in the same timeframe.

I’m glad you posted this because I’ve been thinking the same thing the last few weeks, but was hesitant to post it with how narratives can take off around here.

I have been underwhelmed with Perrault’s game since the line change which to me is significant since this is the first extended stretch in the last 2 years that he hasn’t had one of his NTDP mates on his line. To be clear it isn’t solely an issue with Perrault, Stiga is displaying why he wasn’t a 1st round pick…vision is extremely lacking which is like oil & water w how Perrault plays.

Leonard has had a monster stretch during the same time, but so many of his goals and points are pure individual efforts. He is a man vs boys out there. That isn’t always translatable to the pros (tho in Leonard’s case zero reason to believe it won’t be) - Jimmy Vesey is a great example of a one man show at the NCAA level who’s lack of vision and instincts were exposed at higher levels.

GP is still plenty dangerous but he is not single handedly elevating his line right now. I’m curious to see if he can do that more down the stretch. Gives some credence to the theory that he is likely to be more an excellent Robin than Batman at the next level. Not a bad thing at all, to be clear. Or perhaps I’m over analyzing a small sample size, or a line that just isn’t clicking for whatever reason.

 

[tiggles]

There was like a 3 game stretch before world juniors where the Stiga-Hagens-Perreault line got put together, and I thought they looked fantastic. The line was producing and Leonard's line wasn't doing very much. And now post world juniors I thought the line looked good when they were first put back together (a little snakebit for the most part), but they've definitely looked pretty pedestrian these past couple of weeks. Honestly, not to sure what to make of it, but hopefully just a blip.

 

[JCProdigy]

I’m glad you posted this because I’ve been thinking the same thing the last few weeks, but was hesitant to post it with how narratives can take off around here.

I have been underwhelmed with Perrault’s game since the line change which to me is significant since this is the first extended stretch in the last 2 years that he hasn’t had one of his NTDP mates on his line. To be clear it isn’t solely an issue with Perrault, Stiga is displaying why he wasn’t a 1st round pick…vision is extremely lacking which is like oil & water w how Perrault plays.

Leonard has had a monster stretch during the same time, but so many of his goals and points are pure individual efforts. He is a man vs boys out there. That isn’t always translatable to the pros (tho in Leonard’s case zero reason to believe it won’t be) - Jimmy Vesey is a great example of a one man show at the NCAA level who’s lack of vision and instincts were exposed at higher levels.

GP is still plenty dangerous but he is not single handedly elevating his line right now. I’m curious to see if he can do that more down the stretch. Gives some credence to the theory that he is likely to be more an excellent Robin than Batman at the next level. Not a bad thing at all, to be clear. Or perhaps I’m over analyzing a small sample size, or a line that just isn’t clicking for whatever reason.

Yeah, it's a fine line to balance and @tiggles has a good summary too. Just as we have valid concerns over Gabe, I have concerns about Leonard too though. A few of his goals lately have been ENs and playing on a line with upper classmen like Jellvik and the size of Gasseau has really opened up room for him. Does his game play, with his size, at the next level? As in, can he play that way without getting himself hurt? At the college level he's taken a beating and to his credit he keeps on getting back up. Also, his shot is just average right now.

I almost brought it up last post, but I will here. Hagens has also been a little hot and cold through the season with both he and Stiga showing the normal freshman blips. He's super talented, has the moves on his stick and can skate but sometimes his decision-making and execution of his final pass/shot aren't there.

Overall, yeah Perreault needs his linemates to find open ice and to have the vision to find him when he's in an advantageous position to receive the puck. He's tried the 'taking on guys one on one' (two, three) and it hasn't worked lately. I wouldn't worry too much though. I mean we are talking about a team that's the no 1 in the country and Gabe, Leonard, Hagens and Stiga are the point leaders on said team so really, we are just using a fine-tooth comb to pick them apart a little bit. Something we don't do with most other prospects (ahem, Cole Huston). In the end, it's probably just the ebbs and flows of the season.