Detroit Red Wings veteran forward David Perron faces a potentially lengthy suspension for his vicious cross-check to the head of Ottawa’s Artem Zub.
On Sunday, it was announced that Perron would be offered an in-person hearing from the NHL’s player safety department. That in-person hearing allows the league to suspend a player for over five games. The hearing doesn’t automatically imply for certain that Perron will receive that punishment, but it will allow for the option. Regardless, the Detroit Red Wings should plan on not having Perron available for a significant amount of time.
Perron, 35, came to his captain’s aid, Dylan Larkin, after a horrifying scene on Saturday night in Detroit. While the Detroit Red Wings were on the power play, Larkin was jostling for position in the bumper spot near the hash marks in the offensive zone as a scramble for the puck ensued.
David Perron will likely miss multiple games for the Detroit Red Wings due to a possible suspension.
Mathieu Joseph cross-checked/punched Larkin in the back of the head and neck area. As Larkin began to fall forward from taking the blow behind, he fell toward Parker Kelly, who got him with a butt-end of the stick on the chin. Larkin was knocked unconscious and vulnerable on the ice for what felt like several minutes as bedlam began. Perron, wanting blood, immediately retaliated with a barbaric cross-check to defenseman Zub, who wasn’t directly involved with the initial play. There is no word yet on any potential discipline for Joseph or Kelly. Joseph and Larkin, of course, have a history. In 2021-22, Joseph, a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning at the time, demolished Larkin from behind, sending him head-first into the boards. Larkin popped up and glove-punched Joseph and would eventually be suspended one game for his retaliation.
Following the play on Dylan Larkin, David Perron has been assessed a 5-minute match penalty for intent to injure. pic.twitter.com/lMwCKuKVDh
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 10, 2023
Perron was assessed a major penalty on the play and a game misconduct. Although there was a stretcher ready, Larkin was able to make his way off the ice with plenty of assistance which was a good sign.
On Sunday, Kevin Weekes of ESPN, TSN, and NHL Network reported that Larkin’s scans all came back clear, but there is no timetable for his return.
Perron has totaled seven goals, four of which have come on the power play, and 13 total points over 26 games this season for Detroit. He’s averaging 14:33 of ice time per night and is maintaining a shooting percentage of 14%. The Detroit Red Wings will need to make a couple of roster moves to replace Perron and the injured Larkin. I would expect Austin Czarnik and Jonatan Berggren to be recalled from Grand Rapids to help fill out the lineup ahead of Monday’s contest.
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Next up for the Detroit Red Wings is a date in Dallas against the Stars on Monday evening.