David Perron has played a fraction of his 1,000 NHL games for the Detroit Red Wings, but that his milestone came with them befits his impact.
In the twilight of his career, the 34-year-old has strengthened the Wings as they emerge from their rebuild. He is a combination of feisty and finesse; poised, productive and personable.
“He’s brought a lot to our group in a short period of time,” coach Derek Lalonde said. “But even the big picture of him getting to that point, and the way he keeps competing and playing with such passion.”
Perron recorded his ninth goal and 21st point in 27 games with the Wings in Saturday’s 3-2 overtime loss at the Dallas Stars. To be a part of his 1,000th NHL game was special to longtime friend Oskar Sundqvist.
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“It’s awesome,” Sundqvist said. “I’ve been with him for a lot of years and it’s awesome to celebrate with him and be by his side.”
Perron said the milestone “means a lot. Going through different things in my career so far, it’s a special number, something that I am really proud of.”
Here are 10 takeaways on Perron’s accomplishment:
How it began
Perron played junior hockey in Quebec and didn’t attract serious attention from NHL scouts until his second year of draft eligibility, when he led the Lewiston Maineiacs with 83 points in 70 games and to the 2006 President’s Cup and participation in the Memorial Cup. That was enough for the St. Louis Blues to draft Perron at No. 26 in 2007. He recorded a point in his NHL debut, Oct. 12, 2007. Perron’s role diminished under coach Ken Hitchcock and on July 10, 2013, Perron was traded to the Edmonton Oilers.
Famous linemates
Perron spent time alongside Leon Draisatl while with the Oilers, but the Oilers struggled to win and ended up trading Perron to the Pittsburgh Penguins in January 2015. That afforded Perron the opportunity to play on a line with Sidney Crosby and Phil Kessel. It was onto a new stop for Perron in January 2016, when he was traded to the Anaheim Ducks, and starred on a line alongside Ryan Getzlaf.
Perron re-signed with the Blues when he became a free agent in the summer of 2016. He signed for two years but lasted one, because he was left unprotected in the expansion draft and selected by the Vegas Golden Knights. Perron had nine points in 15 playoff games as he helped the Knights advance to the Stanley Cup Final.
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Meet me in St. Louis
Perron once again was a free agent in the summer of 2018, and once again returned to St. Louis. Third time was a charm: Perron was instrumental in the Blues winning the Stanley Cup in 2019, scoring the game-winning goal in Game 5 against the Boston Bruins. Two games later, Perron hoisted the Cup. He hit several milestones in a Blues uniform: On May 3, 2021, he recorded his 600th career point in his 900th NHL game.
Why the Wings appealed
Perron was a free agent again in 2022, but not for long. General manager Steve Yzerman saw Perron as a player who could improve the Wings, especially on the power play, and offered a two-year, $9.5 million contract. Perron liked everything about the situation.
“Just talking to Steve and the way he wanted the direction of the team to go was appealing,” Perron said. “I felt like I could hopefully come in here and help the guys out a little bit. We’ve had a good start and we’re also not satisfied. We want to keep getting better and that’s the cool part — we can still get better and become a better club.”
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Immediate impact
Five games into the season, Perron had five points. His ability to make plays and his hustle to retrieve loose pucks, especially on the power play, is a real asset for a team looking to grow.
“We’ve had success, and he’s a huge part of that,” Lalonde said. “I just think his intensity, he’s a guy who has seen what winning looks like, and not accepting poor performances, poor stretches in a game. He’s been a huge addition for us.”
Dylan Larkin, the longest serving active Wings player, called Perron, “a gamer. He’s very good on the power play and he adds good leadership value with having been around a lot, playing a lot of games, winning the Stanley Cup. He’s well respected in the room.”
A personable teammate
Sundqvist and Perron were teammates with the Blues from 2017-18 through Sundqvist’s trade to the Wings at last year’s deadline, developing a solid and hilarious friendship.
“I usually joke around with him being the worst skater in the league, but at the same time, he’s probably the best guy in the league at protecting the puck,” Sundqvist said. “You can’t get the puck off him, because of how he uses his body. And then his shot. He’s known for a lot of things. I like watching him from the bench. He’s got my back at all times. We’re not the best at calming each other down, we more rile each other up and keep going. I love having him by my side in all situations.”
As feisty as ever
Perron’s penchant for getting into it with opponents can be frustrating when it leads to penalties, but it is a part of his game.
“I can’t turn it off,” Perron said. “It seems at times it is too much and I have to kind of reel my emotions in a little it, and then at other times, it is what the team needs. So I try to bring it out at the right time and be a positive impact out there.”
Ben Chiarot — who has a tendency to cross the same line — is a fan.
“We’ve definitely had our battles over the years, when he was with Vegas and St. Louis,” Chiarot said. “He’s always kind of willing to come back and battle with you. Always had a lot of respect for the way he played.”
An opponent’s view
Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper shared his thoughts on why Perron has lasted so long: “I think as he’s matured, as he has gotten older, his experience has really taken over. He’s gotten grittier as his game has gotten on. But he’s always had that touch around the net. He makes power plays better, he makes lines better, and he makes Detroit better. Bottom line.
“So to have a guy that’s been around that can guide some of these younger guys, plus, you know, he’s not a throw-in to play the game. He plays meaningful minutes. He’s a guy to lean on. It was a really good signing for them. I’m a big fan.”
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The present
Players sometimes receive a lavish gift from teammates — last season, for example, after Marc Staal played in his 1,000th game on March 12, Wings teammates gifted Staal a fly-fishing trip for him and his three brothers. Yzerman celebrated his 1,000th game on Feb. 19, 1997, with three assists — and as he recalls it, received a fancy watch from teammates. One of the most memorable gifts came in February 2012, when Henrik Zetterberg drove a snowmobile with the No. 96 onto the ice the first practice after Tomas Holmstrom had played his 1,000th game.
What will Perron get? Whatever he asks for, it turns out. “He hasn’t told us yet,” Dylan Larkin said.
The future
Perron is signed through next season. He is the type of player who appeals to a Cup contender looking to shore up at the trade deadline, but he has a modified no-trade clause, which means he can submit a list of 10 teams where he does not want to go.
The Wings have performed well enough to stay inside the playoff picture the first two months of the season, and even if that changes by the March 3 deadline, Perron arguably has more value in the lineup than being flipped for a future asset. He has made the Wings better, and it befits them to have him keep playing games in a Wings uniform.
Contact Helene St. James at hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames.
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A Perfect Holiday Gift
What: “On the Clock: Behind the Scenes with the Detroit Red Wings at the NHL Draft“
Author: Helene St. James, who has covered the Red Wings at the Free Press since 1996. Foreword by Jimmy Devellano, Wings senior vice president and former general manager.
Publisher: Triumph Books.
Pages: 350+.
Price: $19.95.
Availability: Leading bookstores and online from booksellers, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Get it signed! For a personalized copy contact St. James at hstjames@freepress.com.
About the book: In “On the Clock: Detroit Red Wings,” Helene St. James explores the fascinating, rollercoaster history of the Red Wings at the draft, including franchise legends like Steve Yzerman, Sergei Fedorov, and Pavel Datsyuk. Readers will go behind the scenes with top decision-makers as they evaluate, deliberate, and ultimately make the picks they hope will tip the fate of their franchise toward success. From seemingly surefire first-rounders to surprising late selections, this is a must-read for Red Wings faithful and hockey fans eager for a glimpse at how teams are built.