"Not NHL Ready": Trusted Rangers Insiders Makes Bold Prediction Regrading Gabe Perreault
Photo credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
The New York Rangers 2025-26 lineup will consist of prospects hunting for spots in the middle and bottom-six positions. Vince Mercogliano issued a bold prediction for the prospects' start to the year in the latest New York Times column, and it may not be what you expect.
While Gabe Perreault is considered the New York Rangers' best prospect, opinions change often.
His performance hadn't convinced Corey Pronman that the prospect was NHL-ready. NHL Insider Vince Mercogliano discussed the Rangers' 2025-26 situation, which included Perreault, https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6493427/2025/08/26/new-york-rangers-nhl-pipeline-rankings-2025/ this year.
The New York Rangers and Gabe Perreault: What Does 2025-26 Have in Store
Gabe Perreault is a former 1st-round pick of the club, who played five games in the NHL last season. According to NHL Insider Vince Mercogliano, the Rangers forward won't be NHL-ready this year.
Instead, he'll begin his professional hockey career in the minors with the Hartford Wolfpack. Which, idealistically, is what you'd want for a player who is still developing.
Given that there will only be one spot in the lineup open for a prospect to jump into, he'll have to compete with Brett Berard and Brennan Othmann for that territory.
While Perreault does have more upside on the offensive side of the puck, he isn't mature enough yet to withstand the physical pressures of the league. Something Othmann and Berard have over the 23rd overall pick.
Mercogliano spoke with coaches and scouts regarding Perreault's next steps in his career. They feel that he could use some time in the AHL in order to mature and develop his game instead of rushing the process.
This is counter to what we've seen with players like Kaapo Kakko and Alexis Lafreniere, whose production was inconsistent. They both spent more time in the NHL than in the AHL.
Peter Baugh believes that Berard will separate himself from the pack and earn a spot in the lineup.
Which isn't hard to believe considering we've seen how gritty a player he is in the NHL already.
Gabe Perreault may be a 23rd overall pick, but the tools to survive in the NHL aren't there just yet.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 14 | 59 ANSWERS "Not NHL Ready": Trusted Rangers Insiders Makes Bold Prediction Regrading Gabe Perreault Do you think forward Gabe Perreault, a New York Rangers prospect, will start the year in the AHL? | ||
| Yes | 44 | 74.6 % |
| No | 15 | 25.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
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