If there’s one skater who has particularly stood out in training camp for the New York Rangers, it’s Gabe Perreault. The top prospect has impressed and made his mark in competitive play. It’s a small sample size with a few rookie and preseason games but more noteworthy than the practices as he’s showing what he can provide for in-game situations.
Perreault is making a case to join the NHL team. The question is whether that’s the best route for the 20-year-old forward. This is his first season at the pro level, and he can either spend most of it with the American Hockey League (AHL) team or make the Rangers out of camp and never look back.
The Case to Have Perreault on the Rangers
If Perreault is ready from day one, there’s no reason to keep him in the AHL. The Rangers are in a tough spot as they can keep the contending window open or start a retool, and Perreault’s offense helps them remain competitive.
He can become a great option on the right wing and add a scoring presence in the process. Either Perreault plays on the third line on the opposite wing of another young winger looking to make significant strides in Brett Berard, or he can move up to the second line if new head coach Mike Sullivan wants to spread things out. The second option is possible if Mika Zibanejad moves to the center spot, which allows Perreault to play on the same line as Vincent Trocheck and receive plenty of open looks because of it.
The Rangers need youth and depth scoring in their lineup. The Chris Kreider trade sent the message that this team is getting younger but it created a void in the middle six. Perreault provides the forward unit with that much-needed youth and offense to keep the team in the mix throughout the upcoming season.
The Case to Keep Perreault in Hartford
It’s well known that the risks of calling a prospect up before they are ready for the NHL. Calling a prospect up and then sending them down can shatter their confidence and, more importantly, ruin their development.
In Perreault’s case, it’s best to give him more ice time as he learns the pro game. That will only happen this season at the AHL level. In the NHL, he’s most likely playing on the third line, and at best, he’ll be a second-line winger. With the Hartford Wolf Pack, he’ll be in the top six while also receiving time on the power play and potentially the penalty kill.
It’s also worth noting that he’s the type of player Wolf Pack head coach Grant Potulny wants in the lineup. Perreault isn’t a great skater but he forechecks and finds his open shots. Potulny noted multiple times last season how the messaging and system stay the same, which is to win with the forecheck and wait for open looks on the net.
“I’m a believer in shooting the puck, if you can, from within the dots. If you shoot from outside the dots, and there’s nobody in front of the net, it’s a wasted shot,” Potulny noted after one of the games last season, and it’s why Perreault is ideal for the offensive zone. He finds the dangerous ice and waits for his shots. It’s that style of play that can make him a key part of the Wolf Pack offense and possibly a great NHLer.
The Middle Ground as the Best Route
The good thing about the Perreault decision is that it’s not a yes or no question. There are a few paths for the Rangers, and the middle ground makes the most sense. In his case, it’s starting out the season in the AHL and joining the NHL team halfway through the season. Perreault can join the Rangers by midseason and help them out one way or another.
If the Rangers are contending, he injects youth into the bottom six. If they aren’t in the playoff picture and are looking to hit the reset button, Perreault allows them to do that while providing promise for the future.
Perreault will be ready for the NHL by midseason. By the time the Olympic Break rolls around, he will have played in all situations and worked on the minor details to join the Rangers. And with his talent, he won’t return to Hartford after that.
