Gabe Perreault (Steven Ellis/The Nation Network)
Credit: Gabe Perreault (Steven Ellis/The Nation Network)
OTTAWA – If you haven’t heard of Gabe Perreault yet, that is about to change.
The New York Rangers prospect is rapidly establishing himself as one of the top young talents outside the NHL. Currently, he ranks third in American scoring at the 2025 World Junior Championship with four points in two matches. Last year, he posted 10 points at just 18 years old, marking an impressive start. Now, in his second appearance at the tournament, many scouts regard him as one of the event’s standout players.
Perreault is part of Boston College’s formidable top line, alongside Washington Capitals draft pick Ryan Leonard and 2025 NHL Draft prospect James Hagens. Having played together throughout the season, they have emerged as the most potent line at the World Juniors, combining for 13 points in just two games against Germany and Latvia.
“He’s an excellent teammate who enhances everyone’s performance,” Hagens noted. “He’s a unique player who significantly contributes to our victories.”
This season, Perreault has tallied 23 points in 16 games and boasts an impressive 83 points in 52 career NCAA games. No player under 20 in college hockey has outperformed him in the past two years. This accomplishment isn’t surprising considering that the Sherbrooke, Quebec native (who grew up in the U.S. while his father, former NHLer Yanic, played for the Chicago Blackhawks) shattered the USA Hockey National Team Development Program’s single-season points record with 79 assists and 132 points in 2022-23, surpassing names like Patrick Kane, Jack Hughes, and Auston Matthews.
Despite his remarkable achievements, Perreault was selected 23rd overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, largely due to concerns about his skating. This issue was particularly evident on the larger international ice, where he often appeared to be the third man back in transition—a notable disadvantage. While he excels in open spaces, those opportunities are rare in the NHL.
One scout commented, “His stride lacked power, and when matched up against players like (Will) Smith or (Oliver) Moore, he got revealed. It didn’t matter against junior players, but college competitors were destined to exploit that if he didn’t improve.”
However, his dedication to strength training has evidently paid off. At the 2023 World Junior Summer Showcase, Perreault showcased noticeable improvements in his skating, which continued to enhance throughout his freshman year. Although his skating isn’t yet a standout feature, it no longer poses a major concern and should not hinder his progress in the NHL.
“He may not be large, but he appears sturdier now, making it tougher to knock him off the puck,” said Chris Peters from FloHockey. “His increased strength has improved his balance and steadiness on his skates.”
With his impressive statistics and mitigated weaknesses, the Rangers seem to have a promising prospect on their hands.
The primary question remains: what type of player will Perreault evolve into? It seems likely he will need to play in a top-six role given that his game revolves around offensive generation. The Rangers have faced challenges with their top prospects recently, particularly when opportunities in the upper lineup are scarce.
Currently, Perreault is projected to be a skilled top-six forward, excelling in playmaking and causing significant damage on the power play. He thrives with the puck on his stick and has shown greater effectiveness in puck management than he did during his draft year. His intelligence on the ice, combined with a newfound patience in distributing the puck against tougher college competition, has made him increasingly dangerous.
For Perreault to succeed in the NHL, he must be placed in a role focused on offense, where he can create chaos with the puck. However, achieving that in the professional league may prove more challenging than in his developmental leagues.
That conversation about his future can wait until he turns pro in a few months. For now, his decision to stay in school rather than joining the Rangers organization was wise. He is acquiring vital experience at Boston University, developing at his own pace, and making a name for himself as one of the most productive college wingers in recent memory.
He also has the chance to be a leader on a national championship team once again.
