Less than a day after his’s sophomore season at Boston College concluded, he made the leap to professional hockey by signing a three-year entry-level contract with the New York Rangers on Monday.
The 19-year-old forward, widely considered the Rangers’ top prospect, is expected to join the team for practice on Tuesday and could make his NHL debut at Madison Square Garden against the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday.
Selected 23rd overall in the first round of the 2023 draft, he is known for his elite skill, vision, and high hockey IQ. Over the past two seasons at Boston College, he ranked second among all NCAA skaters with 73 assists and third with 108 points.
While nothing was certain, many anticipated that he would turn pro after his sophomore year. Following BC’s national championship loss to Denver last season, he initially opted to return in hopes of securing an NCAA title this year.
However, despite entering the NCAA tournament as the No. 1 seed, Boston College fell 3-1 to Denver in the Elite Eight on Sunday, missing out on a Frozen Four appearance for the second consecutive year. Perreault went scoreless in his final game with the Eagles but had netted his 16th goal of the season in Friday’s 3-1 regional win over Bentley.
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Perreault ranked second in scoring for Boston College this season with 48 points, leading the team with 32 assists and five power-play goals. The only player to outscore him was Ryan Leonard, who tallied 49 points and signed his entry-level contract with the Washington Capitals on Monday.
As a freshman, Perreault made an immediate impact, finishing second in the nation with 41 assists and fourth with 60 points in 36 games.
Beyond his success at Boston College, he played a key role in helping the United States secure back-to-back World Junior Championship titles in 2024 and 2025—the first time Team USA has won consecutive WJC tournaments.
Perreault delivered identical performances in both tournaments, registering 10 points (three goals, seven assists) across seven games each year.
Gabe Perreault is intriguing option for Rangers down stretch this season
How Rangers coach Peter Laviolette integrates Perreault into the lineup during this critical stretch will be intriguing to watch. The Rangers (35-32-7) sit just behind the Montreal Canadiens for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, making each of their remaining eight games crucial.
This isn’t the ideal time to experiment with a young player adjusting to the NHL, but Perreault’s high-end skill could provide a spark for a Rangers team that has struggled recently, going 4-7-2 over its last 13 games and failing to solidify a playoff spot.
If Perreault is in the lineup, a top-six role would be the most logical fit, given his offensive strengths. Pairing him with a rugged yet skilled center like J.T. Miller, possibly alongside either Will Cuylle or Alexis Lafrenière, could create space for the 5-foot-11, 178-pound forward, who is still developing his physical game.
His arrival draws comparisons to another Boston College product, Chris Kreider, who joined the Rangers during their 2012 Stanley Cup Playoff run. A first-round pick in 2009, Kreider turned pro after winning a national title at BC and made an immediate impact, helping the Rangers reach the Eastern Conference Final, where they fell in six games to the New Jersey Devils.
Kreider tallied five goals and seven points in 18 postseason games that year, scoring in each of the first three games of the conference final. However, he faced challenges securing a full-time role the following lockout-shortened season.
Now 33 and the longest-tenured Ranger, Kreider will likely serve as a mentor for Perreault as he embarks on his NHL journey this spring.
