Can New York Fans Expect a 26-27 Breakout Year from a 21-Year-Old Ranger?
The 26-27 NHL season is a month away, and the New York Rangers face an intriguing season. After a season of humiliation, this Rangers team looks quite different compared to April. Offseason moves were made, and the defense was rebranded; now all that's left is to see how their on-paper roster translates on the ice. New additions like Pavel Dorofeyev and Sean Durzi are expected to be quite noticeable at the start of the season. Still, it’s the returning players who must contribute as well for a successful season. Many eyes will be on Alexis Lafrenière to, at long last, have his breakout season, but what about their former top prospect?
As the 24-25 season nearly concluded, the Blueshirts brought up Gabe Perreault, their top prospect at the time, for a brief sneak peek at what fans can expect from him. Though the move ultimately burned a year off his three-year entry-level contract after only five games, his best hockey came during the 25-26 season. Despite a slow start for the rookie, his most notable hockey game came in the final 23 games of the season, when he tallied 19 points, which included nine goals and 10 assists. For being picked 23rd overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, many fans still believe this to be a massive steal, and now the 21-year-old has a chance to back up that statement in the coming season.
One of the brightest spots of their dark season last year was no doubt the emergence of their most recent top line. Not only is Perreault a big factor on that line, but Lafrenière also holds a spot on there, along with Mika Zibanejad. A productive first line with the two youngsters that need to break out the most could mean wonders for this season to come, if that same line can pick up right where they left off in April. Combining for 14 goals last season, if the Rangers are to bounce back this season, that line feels like an easy choice in their potential lineup on September 29th. A breakout season looks quite likely for the Quebec native, so what can fans expect from him next season?
Finishing the 25-26 season with 12 goals and 15 assists in 49 games, Perreault tallied 27 points in total. As he’s most likely to take the ice on opening night, and if healthy for most of the season, a major increase in points can be very much expected. Many expect him to pass 30 points, others 40, and many more believe they’ll see a 50-point player on the ice this season. In total, the five-foot-11 forward has 27 points in 54 games played, so assuming he continues at his current pace, a 40-point season feels extremely likely, perhaps reaching the 20-goal mark as well if his confidence continues to trend upwards throughout the season. A big season approaches for the young forward; can he earn himself a permanent spot on this Ranger team's future?
