Gabe Perreault

Gabriel Perreault (born May 7, 2005) is a Canadian-American professional ice hockey player who is a right winger for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted 23rd overall by the Rangers in the 2023 NHL entry draft. He played college ice hockey at Boston College.

Playing career

Junior

In Perreault's first year in the national program, he recorded 18 goals and 32 assists in 51 games with the under-17 team. In his draft-eligible year, he was a winger on a line with Will Smith and Ryan Leonard and recorded 53 goals and 79 assists for 132 points, the most points and assists in a single season by any player in the history of the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (USNTDP).^[1][2]

College

Perreault began his college ice hockey career for Boston College during the 2023–24 season.^[3] In his freshman year he recorded 19 goals and 41 assists in 36 games. He finished second among all NCAA players in assists and tied for fourth in points. Following the season he was named to the All-Hockey East Second Team, Hockey East All-Rookie Team, and an AHCA East Second Team All-American. During the 2024–25 season, in his sophomore year, he recorded 16 goals and 32 assists in 37 games. Following the season he was named to the All-Hockey East First Team. Perreault finished his collegiate career with 35 goals and 73 assists in 73 games. Over those two seasons, he ranked tied for second in assists and third in points (108) among all NCAA players.^[4]

Professional

On March 31, 2025, Perreault signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the New York Rangers.^[5] He made his NHL debut for the Rangers on April 2, against the Minnesota Wild.^[6] He ended the season playing five games for the Rangers.

Perreault was assigned to the Hartford Wolf Pack, New York's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, on October 3, 2025, as one of the Rangers' last cuts before the start of the 2025–26 NHL season.^[7] He was recalled to the Rangers on November 9, after recording five goals and five assists in 10 games for Hartford.^[8] Perreault earned his first NHL point with an assist against the Nashville Predators on November 10.^[9] He scored his first NHL goal against the St. Louis Blues on December 18.^[10][11] Perreault recorded his first NHL hat-trick on April 4, 2026, in a 4–1 win against the Detroit Red Wings.^[12]

International play

Perreault represented the United States at the 2023 World U18 Championships where he ranked second on the team in scoring with five goals and 13 assists in seven games and won a gold medal.^[13]

On December 16, 2023, Perreault was named to the United States junior team to compete at the 2024 World Junior Championships. He recorded three goals and seven assists in seven games and won a gold medal.^[14] He then represented the United States at the 2025 World Junior Championships, where he ranked second on the team in scoring, and would equal his performance in the proceeding World Juniors, with three goals and seven assists in seven games and won a gold medal.^[15] He was subsequently named to the media all-star team.^[16] He helped the United States win back-to-back gold medals at the World Junior Championship for the first time in history.^[17]

Playing style

In 2023, analyst and former NHL player Colby Cohen praised Perreault's "remarkable offensive hockey IQ," saying that "His adept understanding of the opposing team's defensive spacing, coupled with his skill in identifying high-threat areas, has showcased his ability to be one or two steps ahead of the rest."^[18] Although Perreault is not the strongest skater, which may have contributed to his falling to the 23rd pick of the draft, Boston College coach Greg Brown said that "His anticipation and thinking are at such a high level, you don't even notice. He works very hard, his skating will pick up. He's usually taking two steps in the right direction before anyone might know. It's certainly not a problem for him."^[18]

Prior to the 2024–25 season, USA Today writer Vincent Z. Mercogliano rated him as the Rangers best prospect, praising his vision and hockey sense.^[19] The Hockey News also rated him as the Rangers' best prospect, saying "He's got oodles of hockey sense and a knack for getting pucks to sticks. He's a brilliant playmaker."^[20] McKeen's Hockey also rated him the Rangers' top prospect, noting that he "upgraded his strength and quickness" in the past year.^[21] Scout Jess Rubenstein compared him to Hart Memorial Trophy winner Martin St. Louis, who was also small but an effective scorer.^[20]

Prior to the 2025–26 season, The Hockey News writer Stan Fischler rated Perrault as the Rangers' best prospect, as did Mercogliano of The Athletic.^[22][23]

Personal life

Perreault is the youngest son of former professional ice hockey player Yanic Perreault. He is of French Canadian origin, born in his father's hometown of Sherbrooke, Quebec, and raised in Hinsdale, Illinois.^[24] His older brother, Jacob, is also a professional ice hockey player and was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in 2020. His oldest brother Jeremy has coached ice hockey.^[25] His sister Liliane last played for SDE Hockey of the Swedish Women's Hockey League (SDHL) in 2024–25.^[26]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International

Awards and honors

References

1. ^ Ingram, Alastair (June 28, 2023). "Trio of First Round Picks Make History at NHL Draft". bceagles.com. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
2. ^ Dixon, Ryan (June 22, 2023). "Meet the trio of linemates leading a fantastic USNTDP class into Nashville". sportsnet.ca. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
3. ^ Kennedy, Ryan (November 22, 2022). "American Eagles: Boston College Hit the NTDP Jackpot". thehockeynews.com. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
4. ^ "Rangers Agree to Terms with Gabe Perreault". NHL.om. March 31, 2025. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
5. ^ Mercogliano, Vinenct Z. (March 31, 2025). "NY Rangers sign top prospect Gabe Perreault, who will join team immediately". The Journal News. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
6. ^ Rosen, Dan (April 2, 2025). "Perreault makes debut with Rangers in heat of playoff race". NHL.com. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
7. ^ "Rangers' Gabe Perreault: Demoted to AHL". CBS. October 3, 2025. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
8. ^ "Rangers recall F Gabe Perrault from Wolf Pack, assign Jaroslav Chmelař to Hartford". Hartford Wolf Pack. November 9, 2025. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
9. ^ Walker, Mollie (November 11, 2025). "Star prospect Gabe Perreault notches first NHL point in season debut on Rangers' top line". New York Post. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
10. ^ Walker, Mollie (December 18, 2025). "J.T. Miller comes up big in Rangers' overtime victory over Blues". New York Post. Retrieved December 19, 2025.
11. ^ Korac, Lou (December 18, 2025). "Miller scores in OT again, Rangers defeat Blues". NHL.com. Retrieved December 19, 2025.
12. ^ Satriano, David (April 4, 2026). "Red Wings unable to gain in East wild-card race with loss to Rangers". NHL.com. Retrieved April 5, 2026.
13. ^ "Team USA Captures Gold Medal at U18 Men's World Championship". usahockeyntdp.com. May 8, 2023. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
14. ^ Morreale, Mike G. (December 16, 2023). "Gauthier leads United States 2024 World Junior roster". NHL.com. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
15. ^ Kreiser, John (January 6, 2025). "Rangers picks Gabe Perreault, Drew Fortescue help U.S. win gold again at World Juniors". foreverblueshirts.com. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
16. ^ Aykroyd, Lucas (January 5, 2025). "Leonard named MVP". IIHF.com. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
17. ^ Kennedy, Ryan (January 6, 2025). "World Juniors: Team USA Earned Its Place In History". The Hockey News. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
18. ^ Lazarus, Jonny (December 12, 2023). "Rangers Prospect Gabe Perreault Has The Eagles Soaring To The Top Of The Polls". The Hockey News. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
19. ^ Mercogliano, Vincent Z. (September 12, 2024). "NY Rangers 2024 prospect rankings: Part 2, Nos. 1-5". Lohud. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
20. ^ Fischler, Stan (October 14, 2024). "The Rangers Best NCAA Prospect You Never Heard About". The Hockey News. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
21. ^ Otten, Brock & Hall, Dave (September 16, 2024). "McKeen's 2024-25 NHL Yearbook – New York Rangers – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #23". McKeen's Hockey. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
22. ^ Fischler, Stan (September 12, 2025). "Who Are The Rangers Current Top Prospects?". The Hockey News. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
23. ^ Mercogliano, Vincent Z. (September 19, 2025). "New York Rangers 2025-26 prospect rankings: Rangers 2025-26 prospect rankings: 'Hockey IQ' defining trait for No. 1". The Athletic. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
24. ^ Meltzer, Bill (June 21, 2023). "Draft Prospect Profile: Gabe Perreault". NHL.com. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
25. ^ McGran, Kevin (June 20, 2023). "Leafs just might draft Yanic Perreault's son Gabe, who shattered Auston Matthews' scoring record". thestar.com. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
26. ^ Ebisch, Breanna (June 24, 2025). "2025 PWHL Draft Spotlights: Abby Newhook, Liliane Perreault and Maddy Samoskevich". offsidenewsco.com. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
27. ^ "Hockey East Names 2023-24 Men's All-Star Teams". Hockey East. March 15, 2024. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
28. ^ "Hockey East Names 2023-24 Pro Ambitions All-Rookie Team". Hockey East. March 13, 2023. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
29. ^ "Top 25 men's college hockey players earn distinction as CCM/AHCA Hockey All-Americans for 2023-24 season". USCHO.com. April 12, 2024. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
30. ^ "Hockey East Names 2024-25 Men's All-Star Teams". Hockey East. March 14, 2025. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
31. ^ "Boston College leads way with four 2024-25 All-Americans". USCHO.com. April 11, 2025. Retrieved April 11, 2025.