The Rangers Should Not Be Afra...

1. Chris Drury has himself a potential big winner in right wing Gabe Perreault.

2. The Hockey News rated former NHLer Yanic Perreault's son 12th out of THN's "2024 Top 100 Prospects but I think he's better than that.

3. And, just for the record, The Hockey News rates Gabe first among the Blueshirts Top Ten.

4. That puts Perreault ahead of the over-hyped Brennan (Enough Already) Othmann and Adam Sykora, a pair of left wings.

5. Interesting, that Perreault is the only right wing among Drury's ten prospects. His Boston College coaches won't like this but The Maven wants to see Gabe make the leap to the big club.

6. Writing for The Hockey News, veteran reporter Steve Zipay – who I happen to admire a great deal – says "Perreault is the top offensive force among Blueshirt prospects and he has tremendous hockey I.Q. and skill."

7. Matt Rempe has a big booster in Jess Rubenstein who has covered Rangers prospects since 2004. "I got to know Matt when he came to Seattle in 2020." Rubenstein tells me. "He truly is a humble young man who realizes how lucky he's been. Few rookies put in as much off-season work as Matt does."

8. As far as Rempe's potential for being a genuine Rangers asset, Jess adds that The Skating Giraffe "Is a sponge. He knows, understands and realizes just how fortunate he's been. He'll work out with anyone he feels will improve his game."

9. It's anybody's guess whether this blizzard of sudden fame is going to The Remper's head or not. Silverstein thinks Matt will be just fine. The Maven agrees.

10. Speaking of agreeing – and disagreeing – The Toronto Sun's Steve Simmons is not awed by Mark Messier's being "a great captain." Furthermore, Stevereeno makes some good points.

12. "Messier," asserts Simmons, "was a great captain when he had Hall of Famers around him in Edmonton and New York. But when Mess went to Vancouver and returned to the Rangers, he didn't have Gretzky, Kurri, Leetch or Graves beside him."

13. But here's the shocker of all shockers: "Mark didn't make the playoffs for the final seven seasons of his career." Then, a pause and the ticklish question: "Was he less of a leader then?"

14. The answer seems pretty obvious, doesn't it? The answer obviously is YES!

15. Before I forget, my pal Jess Rubenstein believes that Rangers' center prospect Noah Laba at Colorado College has a shot at winning the Hobey Baker Award this year. The 6-2, 192 pounder was picked 111th overall in the 2022 Draft.

16. Finally – I think – the Rangers back-up of the future is Hugo Ollas. Get a load of his size, 6-8, 253 pounds. (Can anyone see through that mound of a man and find the net?)

17. The Maven's new favorite podcast is "NHL Wraparound." It features ex-Rangers 1995 Stanley Cup-winning manager Neil Smith and former ESPN producer – and pal of mine – Vic Morren.

18. This is a serious, no-nonsense show with stimulating observations. I hope to pass on their not-so-enthusiastic review of the 2024-25 Rangers in tomorrow's column. (I also suggest that Peter Laviolette read it with caution!)