The 2025 NHLPA Rookie Showcase saw some of the brightest young talent from around the NHL assemble at MedStar Capitals Iceplex on Wednesday.
Among the attendees were two close friends and college teammates from the past two seasons, Ryan Leonard of the Washington Capitals and Gabe Perreault of the New York Rangers. The two were able to reconnect on Leonard’s home practice rink as they moved through different activity stations and photo sessions for trading cards with Upper Deck.
“Yeah, it’s great,” Perreault said. “I mean, Ryan’s one of my best friends, so seeing him, and to spend a little bit more time with him is always fun.”
The two Boston College Eagles have been linemates for the past few seasons, dating back to their time together in the Team USA National Team Development Program (USNTDP). They combined for 217 points (96g, 121a) in 151 games for the Eagles the past two years.
“We had so many good experiences, I think, from freshman year to sophomore year,” Perreault said. “We spent so much time together, and I was really grateful to play with him. Built that relationship on and off the ice. It was awesome.”
The two Eagles teams from those years were not successful in terms of taking home a national championship, but did make it to the championship game in 2024 and finished atop the Hockey East standings both years. They were also teammates on three gold-medal-winning USA teams: the 2023 Under-18 World Juniors, the 2024 Under-20 World Juniors, and the 2025 Under-20 World Juniors.
After wrapping up their sophomore campaigns with Boston College, both top prospects signed their entry-level contracts with their respective teams and made their NHL debuts. Leonard’s came before Perreault’s against the Boston Bruins on April 1.
“Yeah, it was definitely a quick turnaround, but I think having him play his first game in Boston, obviously in front of teammates, friends, family, it was really cool for him,” Perreault said. “So, I mean, I was just as excited for him as he was for himself.”
Many of Leonard and Perreault’s college teammates were in attendance to watch Leonard’s debut, lining the glass at TD Garden. They also joined a group of Capitals, which included captain Alex Ovechkin, on BC’s campus for a viral night out the day before.
Perreault, who was unable to attend due to his own NHL responsibilities, made his debut for the Rangers against the Minnesota Wild a day later. He got into five total games for New York, failing to record his first point in the league. Despite that, Leonard believes his good friend will eventually be an offensive force in the league.
“I still can’t describe him,” Leonard said. “You guys ask me this every time, and I don’t know how to describe him. He makes plays you don’t think about on video in slow motion. Stick’s got to be on the ice. You’ll learn that fast.
“I mean, he’s so smart. His 200-foot game has really developed. He’s a great competitor, a great friend, talk to him every day. He wants to win for sure. But his offensive instincts will take over.”
While their joint playing days may be over for now, Perreault added that the two do have plans to return to Boston College at some point to complete their degrees.
“Taking a break right now, but me and Ryan, I think we’re both going to try to get back and do some more classes eventually,” he said.
The two have yet to match up in the NHL as they made their debuts after the Capitals and Rangers had already wrapped up their season series. Plenty of duels are to come between them, though, as the two Metropolitan Division foes are scheduled to square off four times during the 2025-26 season.
Perreault was asked on Wednesday whether the two had spoken about the prospect of playing against each other.
“Yeah, a little bit,” he said. “I mean, I think we’ve talked about it, but I guess we’ll see what happens.”
They will get their first opportunity to meet on the ice in the NHL on October 12 when the Capitals visit Madison Square Garden.
