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Red Wings UFA Watch: Perron Offers Leadership But Production is Decreasing (+)

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4 months ago

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David Perron, Red Wings
Red Wings LW David Perron will become a UFA on July 1.

(Editor’s Note: Detroit Hockey Now will look at the UFA potential for each the Red Wings’ free agents. The second installment is on David Perron.)

Left Wing David Perron

Seasons in Detroit: 2

Stats in 2023-24: 17 goals, 30 assists, 47 points in 76 games

2023-24 salary: $4.75 million

2023-24 contract projection: two years, $2.8 million per season.

Perron Story

On the surface, there still seems to be a lot of spark left in the relationship between left-winger David Perron and the Detroit Red Wings. Management raves about his leadership qualities.

“He’s a take charge guy and the moment’s not too big for him,” Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman said of Perron. “He competes hard, he’s determined, he’s a real professional. He has a real positive impact on our team.”

For his part, Perron is also embracing the notion of keeping the winged wheel on his chest.

“I like it here,” Perron said. “It’s a pretty special place.

“There’s no reason at this point to think of anywhere else. I hope it works out.”

Plus

Perron is a valuable dressing room leader. Detroit players and staff can’t stop talking about what Perron has meant to the team’s leadership group.

“He’s such an emotional leader for us,” Detroit coach Derek Lalonde said.

Yzerman likes the intangibles that Perron brings to the table.

“He has a very good impact on and off the ice on our team,” Yzerman said. “This guy’s been around for a long time. He’s a Stanley Cup champion. He can handle the pressure, he actually thrives on it.

He loves the challenge, he is a tremendous leader.”

Perron also remains a contributor to the offense. At the age of 35, his numbers were showing him in a tie for sixth on the team in points and eighth in goals.

“It’s a player I have to give strong consideration to bring him back,” Yzerman admitted.

Minus

Looking deeper into Perron’s productivity, his goal total was his lowest in seven seasons and his points output the smallest in six campaigns.

Another concern with Perron are his undisciplined penalties. For someone considered a team leader, this is simply unacceptable.

Perhaps the most prominent of these miscues came in a late-season home game against the New York Rangers. The Rangers would score the game-winning power-play goal midway through the third period with Perron sitting in the penalty box following an offensive zone infraction.

“That was a tough penalty,” Lalonde said at the time. “The momentum felt good and we put their power play on for the third time and they cashed in.”

Projection

It would be wrong to suggest that the wheels are coming off for Perron. However, it’s not a stretch to suggest that the lug nuts are loosening.

The Red Wings must be making room on the roster for the offensive productivity of winger Jonatan Berggren. He’s done everything the team’s been asking of him with the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins to prove he’s ready for the NHL. On top of that, he’s out of options and would need to go on waivers in order to go back down to the minors.

Expecting to be tight against the salary cap, Detroit might take an interest in Perron on a one-year deal. But he’s a guy who’s scored 20 goals in two of the past three seasons and four of the last six. Some NHL team is going to be willing to give him a multi-year pact.

That team won’t be the Red Wings.

Prediction: Perron signs with Western Conference team for $2.3 million.

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