Key Role Crucial for Red Wings to Retain Perron
On the latest episode of The Silky Mitten State, my co-host Connor Earegood and I discussed recent reports on key Red Wings free agents, including veteran Quebecois winger David Perron.
In a game on January 7, 2024, Detroit Red Wings left wing David Perron (57) handled the puck against Anaheim Ducks right wing Frank Vatrano (77) during the first period at Honda Center.
The 36-year-old Perron tallied 17 goals and 30 assists in the final year of his contract with Detroit. At his end-of-season press conference, he expressed his desire to stay with the team. According to The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun, Detroit GM Steve Yzerman met with Perron’s agent, Allan Walsh, at last week’s scouting combine in Buffalo.
This led Connor and me to discuss the ideal role for Perron moving forward. I suggested that Perron’s tenacity on the forecheck and in the corners, combined with his skill, aligns well with the style Derek Lalonde wants for his team. Thus, Perron could serve as an embodiment of Lalonde’s vision both on and off the ice.
However, given Perron’s advancing age, a slight reduction in his role seems likely. Detroit might benefit from a top six without Perron next season, posing a challenge to his leadership.
During Detroit’s training camp last fall in Traverse City, Perron stated, “I don’t want to just take on a leadership role and just do that in the room. I want to be a guy that does it on the ice too.” This highlights the difficulty of leading without a significant on-ice presence. The main challenge in retaining Perron is not the contract but finding a suitable role for him.
Perron’s comments at training camp also proved insightful by season’s end. When asked about tracking league standings early in the season, he said, “I’ve never done that before last year… I felt like I’ve won at every level, and I feel like in my heart, if you don’t think like that, you’re not going to have a chance.”
For a team that missed the playoffs by one point, Perron’s mindset is crucial for Detroit’s playoff ambitions in 2025.
