Gabe Perreault dropped from Rangers' top power-play unit with J.T. Miller set to return

Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan says the change is not a demotion for the rookie forward

Mar. 14, 2026 at 2:41am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Gabe Perreault, a rookie forward for the New York Rangers, has been removed from the team's top power-play unit during practice. J.T. Miller, who is set to return from an upper-body injury, will replace Perreault on the first power-play unit. Head coach Mike Sullivan says the change is not a demotion for Perreault, who has been playing well lately with four goals and nine points in the last six games.

Why it matters

The Rangers' power play has been one of the best in the NHL this season, ranking second in the league at 37.5% in March. The decision to remove the hot-handed Perreault from the top unit in favor of the returning Miller raises questions about the team's power-play strategy and player rotations as they gear up for the playoffs.

The details

During Friday's practice, J.T. Miller replaced Gabe Perreault on the Rangers' first power-play unit. Head coach Mike Sullivan said the change is not a demotion for Perreault, who has been playing well lately, but rather an effort to find the best combinations to maximize the power play's success. Sullivan noted that the Rangers have multiple options on the power play and will continue to evaluate the lineup based on factors like left-shot and right-shot players, and putting players in positions to succeed.

  • Perreault has collected four goals and nine points in the last six games.
  • The Rangers' power play is ranked second in the NHL at 37.5% so far this month.
  • J.T. Miller is expected to return from a five-game absence due to an upper-body injury on Saturday.

The players

Gabe Perreault

A rookie forward for the New York Rangers who has been playing on the team's top line and top power-play unit.

J.T. Miller

A veteran forward for the New York Rangers who is set to return from an upper-body injury.

Mike Sullivan

The head coach of the New York Rangers.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Well, our power play has had a fair amount of success throughout the last few months, and we know we have options on it. J.T. has been a big part of the success that this power play has enjoyed. I mean, it's top 10 in the league. The options that we have, I think, are obvious, but when you start talking about left shot, right shots, putting players in positions where we can set them up for success, we have certain combinations that we think help us.”

— Mike Sullivan, Head Coach

“Gabe has got some looks there. [Lafrenière] has been on and off the first unit. The other guys, for the most part, have been mainstays. [Adam] Fox, Mika [Zibanejad], J.T., [Vincent Trocheck], and then there's been a lot of moving parts around it based on injuries, how the group is playing, things of that nature.”

— Mike Sullivan, Head Coach

“No, because I don't think he would look at it as a demotion. Gabe is playing extremely well right now, so we'll continue to work with him to try to continue to help him grow and develop his game, and we'll put him in situations where we think it sets him up for success.”

— Mike Sullivan, Head Coach

What’s next

The Rangers will have to activate J.T. Miller off injured reserve before the game on Saturday against the Kings.

The takeaway

The Rangers are making lineup changes to their top power-play unit as they welcome back a key veteran in J.T. Miller. While rookie Gabe Perreault has been playing well, the team is prioritizing finding the best combinations to maximize the power play's success, which has been a strength for the Rangers this season.