Rangers vs. Devils: Preseason Stock Report
It’s only preseason, but the first Stock Report already has clear winners, losers, and question marks in the Rangers lineup.
The New York Rangers aren't the only thing returning to action—fresh off a 5-3 preseason victory over the New Jersey Devils Sunday afternoon—but so, too, is the Preseason Stock Report.
For those of you who are new, this is essentially my Game Notes-like story for the preseason, focusing more on specific players and where they stand rather than on the game itself because, you know, it's preseason.
Stock Rising
Gabe Perreault
That's about as good of a first "real" game as you're going to get to kick off the preseason. There have been a lot of discussions about Perreault and where he's going to slot in this year. I still can't shake the feeling he's going to spend a healthy amount of time in the AHL this year—which isn't a bad thing—mainly for some of the reasons I'm going to get into below with some other players. But his hockey IQ is just off the charts, and he did a wonderful job making himself known in this one.
It wasn't just the fact that he scored the opening goal; it was the work he did to score that goal. He was involved at three different points keeping the puck in the zone, wining the puck along the boards, shifting the spacing, and then finishing with a pretty put-home from right in front of the net.
That's the sort of stuff you hear Scott Wheeler talk about when he gushes about Perreault, and it's likely the first time many of you have experienced in real time. I'd really love Perreault to make this a decision as the preseason goes on.
