Rangers coach reveals ‘own personal scout’ for updates on top prospect Gabe Perreault
Now that Gabe Perrault’s collegiate career at Boston College is over, New York Rangers coach Peter Laviolette won’t need to count on his most trusted source for updates on the organization’s top prospect.
His person on the “inside” is a BC student named Elisabeth Laviolette. Yes, she is the coach’s daughter.
Though her sport is softball — she’s played for the Boston College squad — Elisabeth likely knows a thing or two about hockey, where her father’s been an NHL coach for 23 seasons
“I talk to my daughter,” Laviolette said Monday amid rumors that Perreault is set to sign his entry-level contract with the Rangers. “She goes to Boston College and she tells me Gabe’s doing just fine.”
Elisabeth is right on top of the latest information she sends to her dad.
“She texted me and said he had a beauty the other night,” Laviolette added. “So, I’ve got my own personal scout at the game. She’s doing a great job with it.”
Perreault scored the first goal for Boston College in the opener of the NCAA Regionals in Manchester, New Hampshire, on Friday. BC won that one 3-1 but lost to defending NCAA champion Denver 3-1 in the Elite Eight on Sunday.
Since his sophomore season is now over, Perreault signed his three-year entry-level contract Monday. His longtime friend and BC linemate Ryan Leonard also signed his entry-level contract with the Washington Capitals on Monday and could make his NHL debut in Boston — pretty convenient — against the Bruins on Tuesday.
New York’s next game is at home against the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday. It’s not known if Perreault will be in the lineup. It’ll be interesting to see how Laviolette might deploy the highly-skilled 19-year-old, considering the Rangers are in the thick of a playoff race with four other teams.
Related: Rangers sign top prospect Gabe Perreault to entry-level contract
Rangers sign top prospect Gabe Perreault
The Rangers selected Perreault in the first-round (No. 23 overall) of the 2023 NHL Draft. He notched 60 points in 37 games as a Freshman at Boston College and was second on the team with 48 points in 38 games this season, trailing only Leonard (49 points). Perreault had a team-best 32 assists this season and five power-play goals.
Perreault and Leonard formed part of a dynamic Freshman forward line with Will Smith last season that helped BC reached the NCAA championship game, where they lost to Denver. Each was an NHL first-round draft pick. Smith signed his entry-level contract with the San Jose Sharks last spring and has 37 points (13 goals, 24 assists) in 65 games this season, including an assist in a 6-1 loss to the Rangers on Saturday.
On the international stage, Perreault helped the United States win consecutive World Junior Championships for the first time in 2024 and 2025. In the two tournaments, he combined for 20 points in 14 games.
Since the day he was drafted, Perreault’s been viewed as the Rangers top prospect, along with 2021 first-rounder Brennan Othmann. The latter forward turned pro last season and scored 21 goals with Hartford of the American Hockey League, and is now with the Rangers, where’s he’s played 16 games in a row down the stretch after being recalled from the minors.
Perreault is expected to join the Rangers on Tuesday. So, Laviolette no longer needs to rely on his daughter for her instant updates.
More About:New York Rangers News