Rangers GM Jeff Gorton is riding a hot streak

Seven for eight is a quality number, whether it’s a pitcher’s wins in consecutive starts, a great run in the batter’s box, a quarterback’s passes completed, an NBA guard’s shots, birdies on the PGA tour . . . you get the drift.

What’s a comparable stat for a NHL general manager in bringing in players who have been pretty darn good through the first quarter of the season — without breaking the bank?

Well, Rangers general manager Jeff Gorton is seven for eight in that category this season. There’s a ways to go until the spring, but consider:

Gorton, who replaced Glen Sather on July 1, 2015, acquired center Mika Zibanejad from Ottawa for Derick Brassard, who returns to the Garden today for the first time since the swap. Zibanejad, 23, had five goals and 10 assists in 19 games before he broke his left fibula in an awkward crash into the boards, but should be back in January.

He also signed Michael Grabner, primarily to add speed and help the penalty kill, to a two-year contract worth $1.65 million per season. All the Austrian native — and former Islander — has done is score 12 goals, which puts him smack-dab among the league leaders.

Then there was the August wooing of highly-sought free agent Jimmy Vesey from Harvard, in which Gorton, with a primary assist from new assistant GM Chris Drury, landed the left wing, who has seven goals and 13 points in 22 games.

Another bargain has been Brandon Pirri ($1.1 million, 5-5-10) who has played wing, center and on the power play, and has a chance for more ice time with Zibanejad out.

And how about defenseman Nick Holden, obtained from Colorado for a fourth-round draft pick? At $1.5 million, he’s holding steady as a fourth defenseman who can play either side and is one of three NHL blueliners who have at least 11 points and a plus-11 rating, along with Ryan McDonagh and Shea Weber. Nice company.

Although Josh Jooris, the former Calgary Flame signed as a free agent, has been limited by a groin injury and a separated shoulder, he’s a valued right-handed center who, at the moment, has pushed Oscar Lindberg out of the middle on the fourth line. The price? $600,000.

Of course, other first-year contributors such as Brady Skjei and Pavel Buchnevich were in the system, and Kevin Hayes and J.T. Miller are maturing and stepping up. But don’t discount Gorton’s summer touch.

The only free-agent swing-and-miss was forward Nathan Gerbe, who is playing in Switzerland.

“I can honestly tell you that we weren’t sure that every player we were going to bring in was going to be able to make a contribution,” said coach Alain Vigneault. “You are hoping that Jimmy will be able to step in and play at the NHL level. You are hoping [the same with] Pavel, because they haven’t proven it yet. You are hoping that Pirri will take this opportunity, and I can go down the road, and down the road. You bring players in and try to put them in a situation where they can be successful. This year, we have tried to have more balance in the lines. And with Grabs coming in and being able to play with almost anybody and finding success . . . That is what we will continue to try and do as we move forward.”

Now, back to the list:

For No. 7, take your choice: spare defenseman Adam Clendening, whose upside made Dylan McIlrath expendable, or the newest Ranger, Matt Puempel, claimed off waivers Monday, a confident young winger and 2011 first-rounder who scored in his Rangers debut on Friday.

When three writers spoke to Gorton about Puempel after the first period Monday in Pittsburgh with the Rangers trailing 2-0, Gorton began by apologizing. “I wish we could be talking after a better period,” he said.

Then the Rangers then scored five straight goals.

Gorton’s next test will likely be at the trade deadline, when the Rangers will have some cap room. Yes, the deal last March for Carolina’s Eric Staal didn’t work out, but given this year’s track record, can Gorton possibly go 8-for-9, or even 9-for-10?

Might be time for other GMs to issue an intentional walk.