New York Rangers
· 2026-07-14
The New York Rangers are currently 16th in the Eastern Conference with a 34-39 record, on a W1 streak. As head coach Mike Sullivan prepares for the upcoming season, he has some difficult decisions to make regarding his lineup. One of the most promising top-six forwards, Gabe Perreault, has shown impressive playmaking ability, which could make him an ideal linemate for Oliver Bjorkstrand.
Perreault's numbers are actually better when playing alongside J.T. Miller than they are with Mika Zibanejad. This could open up the opportunity to pair the 21-year-old with Bjorkstrand at right wing. With six seasons of at least 20 goals scored, Bjorkstrand can make an impact offensively, and Perreault's playmaking ability can help bring the most out of his teammates.
Bjorkstrand can score 20+ goals per season, and Perreault's playmaking ability can help him achieve this. Perreault handed out 15 assists in 49 games played last season, including 10 over the final 23 games of the campaign. This skill is why some people would love to see him play alongside Bjorkstrand, who can make an impact offensively.
There are some obstacles in deploying the 21-year-old full-time with Miller because of the defensive responsibility that comes with it. Sullivan regularly leans on Miller to match up with the opponent's top line. However, if the head coach prefers to keep Lafreniere as his No. 1 right winger and Perreault on the left side, he is a much better fit on the second line than Dorofeyev is because of his playmaking ability.
Pairing two shooters such as Dorofeyev and Bjorkstrand together could put too much pressure on Miller and Durzi as the only consistent puck movers on the ice. Perreault's playmaking ability can help bring the most out of his teammates, and his deployment on the second line could have a significant impact on the Rangers' lineup.