One of the most talked-about prospects for the New York Rangers has been Gabe Perreault. Ever since he was taken 23rd overall in the 2023 NHL draft, he has done nothing but impress. In his 73 games at Boston College, he registered 35 goals and 73 assists for 108 points. This was good enough to earn him a cup of coffee in the NHL at the end of last season. There was even talk during the preseason that Perreault could crack the opening night roster.
Despite a decent preseason performance, Perreault was unable to make the roster and was sent down to the Hartford Wolf Pack. It did not take him long to make an impact for the Wolf Pack. In nine AHL games, he has registered five goals and five assists for 10 points. However, what was more impressive was the mindset Perreault had. He saw his time in Hartford as an opportunity to play and work on some things that he had struggled with.
Perreault said his time with @HWPHockey provided a valuable runway to build confidence:
— Vince Z. Mercogliano (@vzmercogliano) November 10, 2025
“I've been playing well. I think it was really good for me to go down there and play a lot of minutes, work on all the things I needed to work on. Hopefully it translates.”#NYR
This is the type of attitude that everyone needs to have. Sure, Perreault was probably disappointed that he did not make the opening night roster, but he used it as an opportunity to get better. It's a winning mentality, one that the best players in the league possess. It's something that will hopefully rub off on the rest of the team.
Gabe Perreault attitude is one more Rangers need to have
There is a misconception in the hockey world that being sent to the AHL is a form of punishment. It is seen as the player is not good enough to play in the NHL, and has to go to a lesser league. This mindset is detrimental and can really hurt a player's development. The AHL should not be seen as a "punishment" but as an opportunity to better themselves and get ready for the NHL.
That is the attitude Perreault went to the AHL with, and look where it got him. This is something the organization as a whole can learn from. The biggest complaint many have against the Rangers is their inability to develop young talent. They never seem to get these highly touted prospects to live up to their projection. However, if Perreault succeeds and it's due to this mindset, it could alter the way the Rangers approach player development. Putting players in a better position to perform.
This attitude change might not just affect the young players, but the locker room as a whole. A significant reason that the Rangers fell short of expectations was due to locker room issues. It's clear that for the team to find success, they need a locker room shakeup. Perreault could be the guy to give them that shakeup. His positivity and trying to make the best of everything could rub off on other players and allow the Rangers to live up to expectations.
Overall it's good to see a young player like Perreault have this type of attitude. It's a breath of fresh and could be the change the Rangers need. We could be looking back on these comments as a turn point for this franchise.