Gabe Perreault
{{Short description|Canadian American ice hockey player (born 2005)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox ice hockey player
| name = Gabe Perreault
| image = U.S. National U-18 at Wisconsin Badgers 1438 (Gabe Perreault).jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Perreault playing with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program in 2022
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2005|5|7}}
| birth_place = Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 11
| weight_lb = 165
| position = Right wing
| shoots = Left
| league = NHL
| team = New York Rangers
| ntl_team =
| draft = 23rd overall
| draft_year = 2023
| draft_team = New York Rangers
| career_start = 2025
}}
Gabriel Perreault (born May 7, 2005) is a Canadian-born American professional ice hockey player 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 in a single season by any player in the history of the USNTDP.{{cite web |url=https://bceagles.com/news/2023/6/28/mens-hockey-trio-of-first-round-picks-make-history-at-nhl-draft.aspx |title=Trio of First Round Picks Make History at NHL Draft |website=bceagles.com |first=Alastair |last=Ingram |date=June 28, 2023 |access-date=June 28, 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/meet-the-trio-of-linemates-leading-a-fantastic-usntdp-class-into-nashville/ |title=Meet the trio of linemates leading a fantastic USNTDP class into Nashville |website=sportsnet.ca |first=Ryan |last=Dixon |date=June 22, 2023 |access-date=June 28, 2023}}
=College=
Perreault began his college ice hockey career for Boston College during the 2023–24 season.{{cite web |url=https://thehockeynews.com/news/american-eagles-boston-college-hit-the-ntdp-jackpot |title=American Eagles: Boston College Hit the NTDP Jackpot |website=thehockeynews.com |first=Ryan |last=Kennedy |date=November 22, 2022 |access-date=June 28, 2023}} 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. He finished his collegiate career with 35 goals and 73 assists in 73 games. Over the last two seasons, he ranked tied for second in assists and third in points (108) among all NCAA players.{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/rangers/news/rangers-agree-to-terms-with-gabe-perreault |title=Rangers Agree to Terms with Gabe Perreault |website=NHL.om |date=March 31, 2025 |access-date=March 31, 2025}}
=Professional=
On March 31, 2025, Perreault signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the New York Rangers.{{cite web |url=https://www.lohud.com/story/sports/nhl/rangers/2025/03/31/gabe-perreault-ny-rangers-expected-to-sign-top-prospect/82742607007/ |title=NY Rangers sign top prospect Gabe Perreault, who will join team immediately |newspaper=The Journal News |first=Vinenct Z. |last=Mercogliano |date=March 31, 2025 |access-date=March 31, 2025}} He made his NHL debut for the Rangers on April 2, 2025, in a game against the Minnesota Wild.{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/rangers-gabe-perreault-likely-to-make-nhl-debut-wednesday-april-2-2025 |title=Perreault to make debut with Rangers in heat of playoff race |website=NHL.om |first=Dan |last=Rosen |date=April 2, 2025 |access-date=April 2, 2025}}
International play
{{MedalTableTop|name=}}
{{MedalCountry|{{ihj|USA}}}}
{{MedalSport|Ice hockey}}
{{MedalCompetition|World Junior Championships}}
{{MedalGold|2024 Sweden|}}
{{MedalGold|2025 Canada|}}
{{MedalCompetition|World U18 Championships}}
{{MedalGold|2023 Switzerland|}}
{{MedalBottom}}
Perreault represented the United States at the 2023 IIHF 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.usahockeyntdp.com/news_article/show/1272149 |title=Team USA Captures Gold Medal at U18 Men's World Championship |website=usahockeyntdp.com |date=May 8, 2023 |access-date=June 28, 2023}}
On December 16, 2023, Perreault was named to the United States men's national junior ice hockey team to compete at the 2024 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. He recorded three goals and seven assists in seven games and won a gold medal.{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/cutter-gauthier-leads-united-states-2024-world-junior-roster |title=Gauthier leads United States 2024 World Junior roster |website=NHL.com |first=Mike G. |last=Morreale |date=December 16, 2023 |access-date=December 16, 2023}} He again represented the United States at the 2025 World Junior Ice Hockey 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.{{cite web |url=https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/rangers-picks-gabe-perreault-drew-fortescue-help-u-s-win-gold-again-at-world-juniors/ |title=Rangers picks Gabe Perreault, Drew Fortescue help U.S. win gold again at World Juniors |website=foreverblueshirts.com |first=John |last=Kreiser |date=January 6, 2025|access-date=January 6, 2025}} He was subsequently named to the media all-star team.{{cite web|url=https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2025/wm20/news/65274/2025_wjc_mvp |title=Leonard named MVP |website=IIHF.com |first=Lucas |last=Aykroyd |date=January 5, 2025 |access-date=January 5, 2025}} He helped team USA win back-to-back gold medals at the IIHF World Junior Championship for the first time in history.{{cite web|url=https://thehockeynews.com/news/world-juniors-team-usa-earned-its-place-in-history |title=World Juniors: Team USA Earned Its Place In History |work=The Hockey News |first=Ryan |last=Kennedy |date=January 6, 2025 |access-date=January 6, 2025}}
Playing style
In 2023, hockey analyst and former NHL player Colby Cohen praised Perrault'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."{{cite web|author=Lazarus, Jonny|publisher=The Hockey News|accessdate=2023-12-15|date=December 12, 2023|title=Rangers Prospect Gabe Perreault Has The Eagles Soaring To The Top Of The Polls|url=https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/new-york-rangers/rangers-prospect-gabe-perreault-has-the-eagles-soaring-to-the-top-of-the-polls}} Although Perrault 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."
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.{{cite web|title=NY Rangers 2024 prospect rankings: Part 2, Nos. 1-5|author=Mercogliano, Vincent Z.|publisher=Lohud|accessdate=2024-10-13|date=September 12, 2024|url=https://www.lohud.com/story/sports/nhl/rangers/2024/09/12/rangers-2024-prospect-rankings-part-2-nos-1-5/75158772007/}} 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."{{cite web|title=The Rangers Best NCAA Prospect You Never Heard About|author=Fischler, Stan|publisher=The Hockey News|date=October 14, 2024|accessdate=2024-10-17|url=https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/latest-news/the-rangers-best-ncaa-prospect-you-never-heard-about}} McKeen's Hockey also rated him the Rangers' top prospect, noting that he "upgraded his strength and quickness" in the past year.{{cite web|title=McKeen's 2024-25 NHL Yearbook – New York Rangers – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #23|author=Otten, Brock|author2=Hall, Dave|date=September 16, 2024|accessdate=2024-11-10|publisher=McKeen's Hockey|url=https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/mckeens-2024-25-nhl-yearbook-york-rangers-top-15-prospect-profiles-organizational-rank-23/}} Scout Jess Rubenstein compared him to Hart Memorial Trophy winner Martin St. Louis, who was also small but an effective scorer.
Personal life
Perreault is the son of former professional ice hockey player Yanic Perreault. Born in Sherbrooke, Québec, he is of French Canadian origin. His older brother, Jacob, is also a professional ice hockey player. Despite being born in his father's hometown of Sherbrooke, Quebec, Perreault was raised in Hinsdale, Illinois.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/flyers/news/draft-prospect-profile-gabe-perreault/c-344959944 |title=Draft Prospect Profile: Gabe Perreault |website=NHL.com |first=Bill |last=Meltzer |date=June 21, 2023 |access-date=June 28, 2023}}
Career statistics
=Regular season and playoffs=
| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em;" |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! colspan="5"|Regular season ! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! colspan="5"|Playoffs |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Season ! Team ! League ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM |
| 2021–22
| U.S. National Development Team | USHL | 40 | 10 | 17 | 27 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2022–23 | U.S. National Development Team | USHL | 23 | 19 | 26 | 45 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2023–24
| HE | 36 | 19 | 41 | 60 | 29 | — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2024–25 | Boston College | HE | 37 | 16 | 32 | 48 | 25 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2024–25
| NHL | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3"|NCAA totals ! 73 ! 35 ! 73 ! 108 ! 54 ! — ! — ! — ! — ! — |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3"|NHL totals ! 5 ! 0 ! 0 ! 0 ! 0 ! — ! — ! — ! — ! — |
=International=
| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" ID="Table3" style="text-align:center; width:40em;" |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Year ! Team ! Event ! Result ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM |
| 2023
| U18 | {{gold1}} | 7 | 5 | 13 | 18 | 0 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2024 | WJC | {{gold1}} | 7 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 2 |
| 2025
| United States | WJC | {{gold1}} | 7 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 0 |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="4"|Junior totals ! 21 ! 11 ! 27 ! 38 ! 2 |
Awards and honors
| class="wikitable"
! Award ! Year ! |
| colspan="3"|College |
|---|
| All-Hockey East Second Team
| rowspan="3"|2024 |
| Hockey East All-Rookie Team |
| AHCA East Second Team All-American |
| All-Hockey East First Team
| rowspan="2"| 2025 |
| AHCA East Second Team All-American |
| colspan="3"|International |
| IIHF World Junior Championship Media All-Star team
| 2025 |
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{Ice hockey stats}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-ach}}
{{succession box | before = Brennan Othmann | title = New York Rangers first round draft pick | years = 2023 | after = E. J. Emery}}
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Perreault, Gabe}}
Category:AHCA Division I men's ice hockey All-Americans
Category:American men's ice hockey right wingers
Category:Boston College Eagles men's ice hockey players
Category:Canadian emigrants to the United States
Category:Ice hockey people from Sherbrooke
Category:Ice hockey players from Illinois
Category:New York Rangers draft picks
Category:New York Rangers players
Category:NHL first-round draft picks
Category:Sportspeople from Hinsdale, Illinois
Category:USA Hockey National Team Development Program players