Rangers have tough decision on what to do with top prospect Gabe Perreault

GREENBURGH – Gabe Perreault has two goals in the Rangers’ first two preseason games. It’s a great start for a young player battling to make the opening night roster. But is it enough?

“I think I've been playing really well, but it's not something that's going to be given to me,’’ Perreault said Tuesday night after scoring the second goal for the Rangers in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Bruins at the Garden. “It doesn't mean if you play well in one game, that you're on the team. You’ve got to earn it each and every day. And I think I've had a good start, but I’ve got to keep building from here.’’

Perreault did a lot of things right Tuesday. Besides his goal, he had four shots on net, he forechecked aggressively, and was generally noticeable in a good way for most of the night.

“Gabe has NHL talent. I think that's on display,’’ coach Mike Sullivan said. “He's a really talented kid. I think he's a terrific hockey player. He's young. And… my experience in coaching young players like that, a lot of (the messaging) is just about the thankless jobs… knowing when to put a puck deep; defensive responsibilities; awareness in the defensive zone. And then strength, just being strong on puck battles.

“But he sees it extremely well,’’ Sullivan continued. “I think he plays with courage. He's willing to go into the battle areas. I think he can get a little bit stronger, and… we’ll help him in that area. But we've been really encouraged with his game.’’

The prevailing thinking coming into camp was that there is one confirmed opening in the lineup, at third-line left wing, and that three young players – Perreault, Brett Berard and Brennan Othmann – would compete for that spot. (Veteran Conor Sheary, who is in camp on a professional tryout, may be in the mix, too.)

But for Perreault, the Rangers’ first-round pick in 2023, the most important thing is his long-term development as a prospect. So the question for the decision-makers has to be, if he’s not playing on one of the top two lines at the NHL level, would he be better served playing in a third-line role with the Rangers, or playing on the first line, and the first power play, in the minor leagues with AHL Hartford?

Sullivan said it isn’t imperative that Perreault get top-six ice time with the Rangers to further his development.

“It's important that he gets minutes and then plays, because (that would be) in the best interests of his overall development – which would, in turn, be the best interest of the New York Rangers,’’ Sullivan said. “So whether that takes place in New York or in Hartford is yet to be determined. But as I said, we're really encouraged with his game. He seems to get better with each game that he plays.’’

Notes & quotes: For the second straight day, Artemi Panarin (lower body injury) skated on his own. C Justin Dowling (lower body injury) and D Vladislav Gavrikov (maintenance) did not practice… The Rangers play their third game of the preseason Thursday at the Garden against the Islanders.

By Colin Stephenson

colin.stephenson@newsday.comColinSNewsday

Colin Stephenson covers the Rangers for Newsday. He has spent more than two decades covering the NHL and just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.