Gabe Perreault will wear the No. 94 for the New York Rangers. While many will think it is associated with 1994 and the success of that roster, the story behind it is slightly more heartwarming. He's coming into the NHL to play for one of the few Original Six rosters that his father Yanic didn't play for, so he is doing to don the number his father wore during his successful career in the National Hockey League.
From 2001 to the end of his career in 2008, Yanic Perreault wore the No. 94, a reminder of the year he made his NHL debut. Yanic became a strong-producing forward wearing the No. 94, and if Gabe had remembered it, it would have been the number he would have seen him wearing coming out of the lockout since Perreault was born during the lockout. Yes, it's been that long since the lockout, and we all suddenly feel extremely old.
First look at new #NYR Gabe Perreault, who is wearing No. 94 just like his father, Yanic, did. pic.twitter.com/AsoeMjnE65
— Mollie Walker (@MollieeWalkerr) April 1, 2025
Gabe Perreault will become the second New York Ranger to wear the No. 94, joining Derek Boogaard. Boogaard wore it for a brief spell during the 2010-11 season, but Perreault will keep it for a while longer. He'll be looking to impact the NHL more than Boogaard did during his time with the Rangers. Considering Boogaard only played 22 games with the Rangers, with just a goal and an assist to show for it, it's not a high bar.
Perreault is the most highly-touted prospect the Rangers have had since the Rangers have brought through since they drafted Alexis Lafreniere. They will need to develop Perreault properly if he will honor his father in the way he wants to with the choice of number he has made. New York needs scoring depth and players wishing to compete, which Perreault will do for this proud franchise.