The New York Rangers may have the youngest roster in the NHL, and one of the clearest signs of that youth movement is Gabe Perreault. After plenty of buzz about whether the Rangers could actually develop a young offensive talent, Perreault is giving them a fast answer.
He was already on the radar of analysts and fans as a breakout candidate this season, and Greg Wyshynski of ESPN included him again in a recent look at players ready to take the next step. Perreault landed among eight players in Tier 3, “The wait is over,” a group made up of players who have been waiting for the chance to make their NHL mark.
“In the Rangers' retool -- or however they're defining it -- having Perreault become the kind of offensive force he was in college would be huge,” Wyshynski wrote.
The list also included Igor Chernyshov of the San Jose Sharks, Tristan Luneau of the Anaheim Ducks, Matvei Gridin of the Calgary Flames, Noah Ostlund of the Buffalo Sabres, Vasily Podkolzin of the Edmonton Oilers, Calum Ritchie of the New York Islanders and Matthew Wood of the Nashville Predators.
Perreault’s path to this point wasn’t perfectly smooth. He had some early-season trouble in 2025-26 and was sent back to the AHL to join the Hartford Wolf Pack. Once he was recalled, though, the winger looked like a different player and finished the season strong.
In his final 23 games, Perreault put up 19 points with nine goals, 10 assists and a plus/minus of +4. Mike Sullivan searched for the right fit and settled on a line with Mika Zibanejad and Alexis Lafreniere.
To begin the 2026-27 season, that combination has stayed intact, and the results have been impressive. Perreault had points in four straight games entering the Oct. 9 matchup with the Washington Capitals, piling up two goals and two assists along the way.
At 21 years old, the 2023 first-round pick is still early in his NHL climb, but the tools are obvious. He’s showing off the playmaking touch that made him stand out, and he’s adding finishing ability to go with it. The breakout is already in motion, and the Rangers may have found one of their most promising young pieces.
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The concern goes beyond one game because the Rangers are already dealing with injuries in goal, which has thinned out their options at a position that rarely allows for much margin. New York is still waiting for a fuller update on Shesterkin, and with another game looming, the teams depth chart could be pushed into uncomfortable territory if he is not available. [Read more 🡒]
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