The Detroit Red Wings were looking to add veteran leadership when the free agency period opened last summer. On July 13th, the Red Wings signed David Perron to a two-year contract to be that guy. Only three games into his first year as a Red Wing, Perron has already established himself as a leader both in the locker room and on the ice. He is so enamored by head coach Derek Lalonde that he was named an assistant captain in just his first year with the Red Wings.
This admiration is nothing new for Perron. On a first-year Vegas Golden Knights expansion team, Perron was also named as an assistant captain. Perron is currently playing in his 16th NHL season and is closing in on his 1000th NHL game. If he stays healthy and plays every Detroit game, Perron is expected to reach the 1000-game milestone in Dallas on December 10th.
Perron has been a steady player in his career since he was drafted 27th overall by St. Louis in 2007. After the draft, he immediately made the Blues and has played his entire professional career in the NHL. Last season as a member of the Blues, Perron scored over 20 goals for the 6th time. He scored 27 goals and 57 points in only 67 games. He also chipped in with 13 points in 12 playoff games. In 2019, he helped St. Louis win their first Stanley Cup.
Signed by Detroit
When free agency started in July, the Red Wings jumped at the chance to sign the veteran winger. Perron signed a two-year contract on the first day of free agency with an annual cap hit of $4.75M. The deal includes a No Trade Clause for the duration of the contract.
So far, Perron has come as advertised. A skilled winger who plays hard every night and can play multiple forward positions anywhere in the lineup. Perron has scored three goals in his first three games and leads the Red Wings in scoring with four points. Before Monday night’s game, the Red Wings identified Perron as the “Player to Watch.”
All he did was score two goals, including Detroit’s first power-play goal of the season midway through the third period.
What the Red Wings can expect
Detroit can expect David Perron to continue to play in the top-six forwards this season. Currently, he is playing right wing on a line with Andrew Copp and Jakub Vrana. The line will need some time to gain chemistry. Copp missed all of the preseason recovering from abdominal surgery, and currently, Vrana is away dealing with a personal issue.
There is no doubt that once this line gets a chance to play together, they will help fortify a second forward unit to play behind the top line. The Red Wings have depth at the forward position that they have not had since the playoff years.
Perron will also help add skill to the top power-play unit. He has scored 72 power-play goals and 203 power-play points for his career. Adding a unique skill set to the power-play will help keep Detroit more competitive than they were last year when the power-play was near the bottom of the league.
Perron’s veteran presence will also be important as young prospects are introduced to the NHL over the next couple of years. Perron is the elder statesman on the team, and he must bring his leadership to his new team.
Final Thoughts
David Perron is not a savior for the Red Wings, but he has the potential to be a terrific building block on the Detroit roster. His experience alone is something that has been missing from the non-playoff teams for the last six seasons. It should be fun to continue watching the Red Wings this year. The team already looks more competitive and is playing with the confidence of a team that should compete hard every night in the long NHL season.
