Gabe Perreault viewed as prospect most likely to impact Rangers roster: poll

It probably isn’t a major surprise, but New York Rangers fans sent a very loud and clear message that they believe Gabe Perreault is far and away the prospect who will make the biggest impact on the organization over the course of his career.

Perreault received 78.4 percent of the vote in a poll conducted by Forever Blueshirts on social media. The other options on the list were defenseman EJ Emery, their first-round pick (No. 30 overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; defenseman Drew Fortescue, a third-round selection (No. 90 overall) in the 2023 draft; and New York’s top pick this year, forward Malcolm Spence, who was selected in the second round (No. 43 overall).

Emery (North Dakota; sophomore) and Fortescue (Boston College; junior) are shut-down defenders playing in the NCAA. Fortescue, who helped the United States win consecutive World Junior Championships in 2024 and 2025, likely will turn pro next spring. Emery needs more seasoning and could remain in school through the 2026-27 season. Though neither is a flashy prospect, the Rangers hope each helps solidify their back end for years to come once they reach the NHL.

Fortescue, Perreault’s teammate for two years at BC and with Team USA, finished second, garnering 10.5 percent of the fan vote. Though he’s a former first-round pick, Emery had just 2.4 percent of the vote, last among the four options.

Spence finished third in the poll with 8.7 percent of the vote. He scored 32 goals and had 73 points in 65 games with Erie of the OHL last season, and is a University of Michigan commit.

One player excluded from the poll was Brennan Othmann, since the 22-year-old forward didn’t attend prospects development camp last week. That’s a sign Othmann has pretty much aged out of the prospect label. Entering his third pro season, Othmann has his sights set on cracking the opening-night roster after he appeared in 22 games with the Rangers last season. He could be in a battle with Perreault, who’s two years younger, to make the team this fall.

Gabe Perreault looking to make Rangers roster next season

As for Perreault, his place atop the fan vote speaks to his talent and trajectory. The 2023 first-round pick (No. 23 overall) had 108 points during his two seasons with BC, and added 20 points (six goals, 14 assists) 14 WJC games for Team USA. He made his NHL debut late last season and was pointless in five games with the Rangers, most often playing in the top six.

The Rangers will give him every opportunity to make the big club in the fall. He’s easily their most skilled forward prospect, and his exceptional hockey IQ has him in line to play regularly in the NHL sooner rather than later.

“I’m gonna go with the mentality that I’m gonna make the team,” Perreault said last week. “That’s what everyone’s mentality should be. I’m gonna do everything this summer, train hard, work on the little things I need to, and come here to make the team.”

Those “little things” have been a major focus of his offseason work. Perreault’s been in Chicago alongside Patrick Kane, J.T. Compher, and Christian Dvorak, among other NHL players, adding strength, fine-tuning his skating and learning from what he calls “the best stick handler in the world.”

Perreault is also paying close attention to his defensive game, puck battles, and D-zone coverage — areas he knows he’ll need to sharpen to earn ice time from a new coaching staff led by Mike Sullivan.

“I think defensively and all that, I was pretty good,” Perreault said of his brief NHL stint. “But going into this camp just trying to make more of an impact, make some plays.”

He added that the five games he played at the end of last season were eye-opening and humbling, especially when he was matched up against elite NHL talent like Tampa Bay Lightning superstar Nikita Kucherov.

“It was good in that situation to learn,” he said. “To see how fast and how smart the guys are.”

Still, there’s no guarantee that Perreault makes the team out of camp. The Rangers could opt to start him in Hartford to give him heavier AHL minutes and ease the transition, But if he comes in strong — especially in the preseason — there’s a spot to be earned in the middle-six forward group.

But whenever he does land on Broadway, it’s clear that expectations are high, from the organization and fan base, that he should be the most impactful Rangers prospect.