Gabe Perreault’s breakout game gives Rangers fans reason to believe before trade deadline

The New York Rangers waved the white flag on the season back in January, letting the NHL world know that they are retooling and most players on their roster are available for trade. The Rangers desperately need a youth movement, especially when looking at other teams develop young superstars. The retool gives them that chance, but only if general manager Chris Drury gets the right returns.

While there has been plenty of anger from fans directed at the team and Drury for their lack of top prospects developing into difference-makers, they can take solace in one that is currently getting better by the day. That is 2023 first-round pick Gabe Perreault.

On Monday night, the Rangers tied the game to force overtime after trailing 4-0 in the third period. Two of those goals belonged to Perreault, one of which was the tying goal. Perreault also had the primary assist on Will Borgen's goal to cut the deficit to 4-3. With three points, this was Perreault's most productive game of his career. That should be promising for Rangers fans looking for players developing into a star.

Gabe Perreault's breakout performance gives Rangers fans reason for hope ahead of retool

This was a historic performance by the Rangers, as he is the first franchise player 20 years or younger to record a three-point period since Alex Kovalev did so back in 1993.

After the game, Perreault was asked whether he feels more confident in games, pointing out how well he played in the third period. Perreault said he is feeling more confident, and he credits team captain J.T. Miller and Mika Zibanejad for helping him and taking him under their wing.

"I feel like every game I'm getting more and more comfortable and more confident," said Perreault. "J.T. and Mika have done a great job in helping me, mentoring me, and making me feel confident. I think we've been starting to build some chemistry. It's been good playing with those guys."

This was the hope that Rangers fans had. Perreault was called up for good this past December and was placed in a top-six forward role. The best way a young player can improve is to give them significant playing time. While he wasn't consistently putting points on the board, he was playing well overall. It certainly helps that now, he's on the top line alongside Zibanejad, the team's top scorer, and Miller. As Perreault says, he feels the trio is building chemistry, and it showed during the team's comeback attempt in the third period.

For Rangers fans, they are hoping this can be a building point for Perreault, and he can put up points on a consistent basis. It might be hard, considering the Rangers are only going to get weaker, roster wise, with the expectation that additional players will get moved by this Friday's trade deadline. But, there's reason for hope, as difficult that might be for fans, who haven't seen the team win at home, in regulation, since late November.