Perreault’s record-setting NTDP season impresses ahead of 2023 NHL Draft
Forward’s 132 points eclipsed numbers put up by Matthews, Hughes, Kane
by Nicholas J. Cotsonika @cotsonika / NHL.com Columnist
The 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft will be held June 28-29 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. The first round will be June 28 (7 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN, TVAS) and rounds 2-7 are June 29 (11 a.m. ET; NHLN, SN, TVAS). NHL.com is counting down to the draft with in-depth profiles on top prospects, podcasts and other features. Today, a look at Gabe Perreault of the USA Hockey National Team Development Program Under-18 team. NHL.com’s full draft coverage can be found here.
To gauge Gabriel Perreault’s NHL potential, start with one eye-popping number: 132 points.
The forward, No. 10 in NHL Central Scouting’s final ranking of North American skaters presented by BioSteel, had 53 goals and 79 assists in 63 games for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program Under-18 team this season.
His point total set the program’s single-season record, and to put it in perspective, consider this:
It edged him over linemate Will Smith, No. 3 in NHL Central Scouting’s final ranking of North American skaters, who had 127 points (51 goals, 76 assists) in 60 games.
It put him ahead of center Auston Matthews, selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs with the No. 1 pick of the 2016 NHL Draft, with 117 points (55 goals, 62 assists) in 60 games in 2014-15.