Rangers assistant coach could be X-factor in Gabe Perreault transition to NHL
Gabe Perreault and the New York Rangers may have a special X-factor when it comes to unleashing the potential in the 19-year-old, who turned pro this week after two seasons starring at Boston College.
That would be assistant coach Dan Muse.
Perreault and Muse have a strong bond from one amazing season together with the United States National Team Development Program U-18 team in 2022-23. That season, Perreault smashed the USNTDP record with 132 points (53 goals, 79 assists) in 63 games, besting the previous mark set by Auston Matthews in 2014-15 (117 points).
Not too bad, huh?
So, reuniting with Muse in New York could be a real benefit for Perreault. It’s likely at least a small factor the Rangers weighed when committing to burn a year off Perreault’s three-year entry-level contract by having him play immediately in the NHL.
And by immediately, we mean immediately. Perreault is in the lineup Wednesday, making his NHL debut against the Minnesota Wild at Madison Square Garden, just one day after his first Rangers practice, two after signing his entry-level contract and three days after his final NCAA game with Boston College, a 3-1 loss to Denver in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.
Some wondered if the best course of action would’ve been to have Perreault sign an amateur tryout (ATO) with Hartford of the American Hockey League and ease him into professional hockey — though highly unlikely Perreault would’ve come out of college to do that. Instead, he’ll be playing in the top six in New York alongside J.T. Miller and Alexis Lafreniere.
And Muse will be standing behind the bench, helping ease the teenager’s transition to the NHL.
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Rangers assistant coach Dan Muse could ease Gabe Perreault’s transition to NHL
Muse had the opportunity during in 2022-23 to coach some pretty special players at the U-18 level. With his guidance, USA Hockey’s future has never looked brighter as a true powerhouse. First round picks on that U-18 roster include Will Smith, Ryan Leonard, Oliver Moore, Zeev Buium, and of course Perreault. Each is expected to be a core player for his respective team. Several, including Perreault, cemented their Team USA legacies by winning back-to-back World Junior Championship gold medals in 2024 and 2025.
Each brings his own different style to elite skill sets. What sets Perreault apart is his high hockey IQ.
He may have alluded to this when he said Tuesday about turning pro, “I just thought it was time to take the next step. I thought my brain was definitely ready.”
You may not hear a lot about Muse as a Rangers assistant, working largely behind the scenes. But Perreault and his Team USA teammates all have praised Muse as a key part of their development.
That development continued at Boston College for Perreault, who joined USNTDP pals and 2023 first rounders Will Smith (No. 4 overall by the San Jose Sharks) and Ryan Leonard (No. 8 overall by the Washington Capitals) to form the best line in college hockey in 2023-24. Perreault had 41 assists and 60 points as a BC freshman. He finished his two-year Boston College career as the only player in school history to average more points per game than the late Johnny Gaudreau, amassing 108 points in just 74 games.
Though different players develop at different rates, the Rangers have an opportunity through Muse to change at least some of the narrative on their inability to groom and launch their best prospects, if Perreault quickly becomes the player all expect him to be.
It all begins against the Wild, when Muse will have Perreault’s back once again.
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