The New York Rangers aren't getting any younger, and in fact, they made themselves older by demoting top prospect Gabe Perreault to the American Hockey League just days before the start of the 2025-26 National Hockey League season. The transaction is one that was anticipated, and yet, the general sentiment around the move is disappointment. It is understandable because Perreault is a fresh face full of excitement, and fans are craving something different as they still try and move past the mess that was the 2024-25 Rangers. But if Perreault, and by extension the Rangers, are truly going to be great under Mike Sullivan, patience is required. The move to send Perreault down isn't about this season, but the future of the franchise.
This Rangers season is about the veterans primarily
When you look at the projected roster that the Blueshirts will skate on Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins, you see a lot of veterans and younger players who have some experience. It feels very intentional and deliberate, almost as if the remaining old guard is being evaluated by Sullivan and the brain trust headed by Chris Drury as to whether they can be part of a winning team going forward. This is a team that is two years removed from a Presidents' Trophy, and a squad with pieces that went to two Eastern Conference Finals in four years. The main mission for this season is to prove last year is a fluke, to return to the playoffs, and then go on a journey that leads to hardware.
And while someone like Perreault could play an important role on that mission, he isn't prepared for that quite yet. It was not all too long ago that the Blueshirts trotted out a talented and seemingly NHL ready Kaapo Kakko, and fans know how that went. They also saw Alexis Lafrenière seemingly put it all together during the 2023-24 season, and him look very lost for a considerable portion of last year's campaign. For that reason, the team needs to be extra careful with someone like Perreault, because there aren't many players who have the potential to impact the future of the franchise.
Hartford will test Perreault and make him better
Perreault for the most part held his own in rookie camp, and most of the preseason to date. That rookie camp gave him a head start and he seemingly was in great condition, and you shouldn't discount that he was going up against a mix of talent that was still working their way into game shape. This isn't to say Perreault was playing against plumbers, but fans shouldn't put too much stock into the results he generated in those games. He returns to square one in Hartford, and will start his season facing stiffer competition than last season.
As good as Perreault is, the bulk of his experience to date comprises of 73 games at Boston College. During that time he scored 35 goals and assisted on 73 others for 108 points which is quite impressive. He was part of a powerhouse squad full of talent during the 2023-24 campaign, and he finished with 60 points in 36 games. This most recent season he finished with 48 points in 37 games, which is still quite good, but not as dominant as the year before. Will Smith and Cutter Gauthier weren't on last year's team, and it saw both Ryan Leonard and Perreault serve the focal point of BC.
The only point in mentioning that, is that it is important for Perreault to face this challenge of playing in a much more challenging league, seeing how he responds to adversity, and measuring how he looks against the competition. Perreault had just five games at the NHL level last season and didn't tally a point. Leonard appeared in nine games with the Washington Capitals in the regular season and scored an empty net goal. He also had an assist during the Caps eight game playoff run. Leonard will look to establish himself on a Capitals team that has a role for him, the same couldn't be said for Perreault at the NHL level.
Looking at how Rangers brought Filip Chytil along
Filip Chytil is a player who was drafted later in the first round, similar to Perreault, and the Rangers utilized Hartford to help him develop. Chytil appeared in nine games as an 18 year old and finished with three points, and then 75 games as a 19 year old and finished with 23 points. During his 18 year old season he appeared in 46 games with the Pack and posted a line of 11-20-31. He did not see any AHL time during his sophomore season, but for his third season he was assigned to Hartford to start the season. He appeared in nine games, registered nine points, and he's never played in the AHL since. Chytil eventually broke out as a 23 year old with 45 points in 74 games, and since that point has had injuries limit his time in the lineup. Had he not been as unlucky, it is very possible that he'd still be in New York and be in a position to one day become a 60 to 70 point first line center.
Recent examples of youngsters who produced in Hartford
It is important to remember that Perreault only turned 20 in May, and he's still developing as a hockey player. To get a benchmark of what production Perreault should aim for to prove he's ready for the challenge of the NHL, there are three peers of his worth looking at.
Fellow prospect Brennan Othmann made his debut in the AHL at 20 as well, and during his first season he finished with a line of 21-28-49 in 67 games. Then there's Brett Berard who debuted in the AHL as a 21 year old and finished with 25 goals, 23 assists, and 48 points in 71 games. Then there's also Dylan Roobroeck, and the 2023 sixth round pick spent his age 20 season as a rookie for the Pack last season by turning heads with 20 goals and 34 points in 72 games. This is just a basic example of three recent players of different draft pedigree, age, and potential who were able to score at least 20 goals.
In terms of what an absolute elite season would look like, we have to go a lot further back in history if we limit production to just prospects. Artem Anisimov was a second round pick back in 2006, and he spent two seasons in Hartford. His age 20 season saw him tally 43 points in 74 games, and he followed that up with 37 goals, 44 assists, and 81 points in 80 games as a 21 year old. That was an absolute monster season and he eventually would peak with the Blueshirts with 44 points in 82 games during the 2010-11 campaign.
Final thoughts
There is nothing wrong with being disappointed about Perreault being assigned to the Wolf Pack to start the season. Fans want to watch him thrive in New York, and they have seen other teams blessed with young talent contribute. It is quite possible Perreault spends 20 to 30 games in the minors, shows that he is ready, and is put into a place to succeed. But that isn't a given, and the Rangers shouldn't rush him along.
Perreault's age and contract can give the team flexibility in coming years as they transition the roster and try to add more top end talent, so when it is time to call him up the Rangers need to be sure he's ready. Development takes time, and this is going to be an interesting year under Sullivan. The first few weeks will be an adjustment, and the hope is that last year was just a fluke. If for some reason that isn't the case, it makes it that much better that the team will have talent like Perreault developing in Hartford so that the Rangers have a card to play when they need to shake things up.