Rangers Daily: What Gabe Perreault is missing; Simon Nemec update

By most accounts, Gabe Perreault’s first season in the NHL with the New York Rangers was a success. The 20-year-old rookie forward scored 12 goals and totaled 27 points in 49 games, and progressively got better as the months passed, finishing the season with some serious chemistry on the top line with Mika Zibanejad and Alexis Lafreniere . That he didn’t make the Rangers’ opening-night roster out of training camp was soon forgotten, when Perreault scored 10 goals and had seven assists in 20 American Hockey League games with the Hartford Wolf Pack.

That he earned his way back up to the NHL, and then followed it up by earning a regular spot in the Rangers lineup speaks well of the kid and his development. No self-entitlement here. That bodes well for what lies ahead in his career.

Seeing how well he adjusted to the NHL, and thrived on the top line, should leave him and the Rangers wanting more. So, it feels like a real missed opportunity that Perreault is not getting any invaluable pro playoff experience this spring. The Rangers (34-39-9) were out of the postseason race back in January already, and finished last in the Eastern Conference .

But had Hartford been at least good enough to squeak in to the Calder Cup Playoffs, the Rangers almost certainly would’ve extended Perreault’s rookie campaign by assigning him to the AHL for its postseason. Don’t kid yourself, that would’ve been a big deal for Perreault, likely playing 20+ minutes a night on the top line, first power-play unit, and as Hartford’s most-marked man by the opposition. Yes, Perreault proved his chops on the big stage, helping the United States win consecutive World Junior Championships in 2024 and 2025, totaling 20 points (six goals, 14 assists) combined.