https://www.lapresse.ca/sports/hockey/2024-05-25/lnh/detroit-de-preference-pour-david-perron.php
Hey guys, here's an article I read a couple days ago and I thought it'd create a bit of a discussion during this off-season.
I translated the article to the best of my knowledge :
Perron has just finished the second season of his two-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings. He will therefore become an unrestricted free agent.
While the Motor City team missed the playoffs twice, Perron himself has asserted and established himself as a seasoned veteran among the young Wings. Like a good family man, he believes he has everything it takes to continue his role in Detroit. A mentoring role.
For this reason, but also to preserve some stability for his family, Perron and his agent Allan Walsh will first discuss with Steve Yzerman and the Red Wings so that the Sherbrooke native can continue his career there.
Montreal and Las Vegas are destinations that are often mentioned when discussing the future of the 35-year-old forward. In 158 games over two seasons with Detroit, Perron scored 41 goals and provided 62 assists for 103 points.
It's an important summer ahead for someone who already has 1,131 regular-season games under his belt. But he's been through this before.
"It's a big summer. But there's a lot less stress. Where I am now, with the number of years in the NHL, all I want is to keep going as long as possible, for sure. If I have to move elsewhere, it'll probably be the last time. Vanessa and I, we know about moving. But for the kids, it's different. They have school, their sports, friends, they're putting down roots too, and every time, it's starting over, their life starts over."
"The number one choice is to stay in Detroit for these reasons, it's a big reason. But also, I like what I see on the ice. What happened this year, it's very interesting, we've made steps forward in the two years I've been here. Also, I was given an A [assistant captain] last year, so you have to fulfill the role, show that you can be a leader, and I'm proud of what I've accomplished over the past two years," he explained.
David Perron won't leave Detroit for nothing.
The player who made his NHL debut at 18 knows he's lucky to still be playing in this highly competitive league. He's not overly concerned about the months ahead.
"Most players don't decide [when they'll retire]. They want to play as long as possible. And the others, they're the best of the best. They decide when they leave. In my case, it's not like that. I look at my career, how it started, in St. Louis, or when I landed in Pittsburgh thinking it would be the best place, but it didn't go well. It could have ended two years after that, and here we are in 2024 and it continues. I'm very proud of that. I can continue for at least two more seasons," he assured.
In this sense, Perron draws a lot of inspiration from the journeys of Joe Pavelski, with the Dallas Stars, or Corey Perry, with the Edmonton Oilers.
"Pavelski is 39! I played with Perry in Anaheim [in 2015-2016] and he's still playing. Skating has never been my greatest strength, but I compensate with hockey IQ and knowing what the game needs."
"I found a way to continue to be important in a game so that the coach continues to use me on the power play, for example. As long as the body is healthy, I want to continue. And it's going well on that front.
"In 2015, teams wanted to focus on youth and speed only. I see a swing back now. Teams realize that veterans are important, you need help with your young players and I think that can help me a bit this summer. Also, the fact that the salary cap is going to increase a bit, that too will help me. It's been six years since it hasn't moved," he noted.
The Red Wings are certainly one of the young teams on the rise in the NHL. And they narrowly missed the playoffs. The future is a bit now, in Detroit.
"I had two good seasons. My role has diminished a bit, that's normal, I accept it, but I continue to be a leader. I experienced being the youngest on a team, and now I'm the oldest. And between the two, I've had ups and downs, I won a Stanley Cup, I have a lot of experience to share."
by wlcjdkfjdjdbskx
14 Comments
He’s a slow player that has only gotten slower and his production dipped
But the room loves him he can still facilitate on the PP and had that insane goal in game 82
If he’s cheap then sure why not have him come back, but if it comes at the expense of a spot for say Kasper then maybe we reconsider
He helped establish a new culture here and maybe his A is better suited for Mo/Raymond
If we can shore up our top 6 and he signs for close to league minimum I’d take him for a season with the option of 2 years.
He can’t play top six minutes and we can’t put ourselves in the position to have the temptation to give him top six minutes.
Personally I love the dude and think he is a big reason for our step forward this year. Obviously we shouldn’t give him something like $5mil but even at $2mil I’d love it. Just gotta trim some spots for rookies.
There should be a spot on this roster for him. Sure he shouldn’t get top 6 minutes, but he was still more than good enough for a role player last year and he clearly means a lot to the room. Give him a contract that reflects his changing role and it’ll be more than fine.
He’s already declined a bunch but a 1 year deal I could handle
103 points in 158 games is kind of surprisingly high for how it feels watching him. Looking at his stats, his points were a little lower than his usual this year — and he played more games than other recent years — but putting up basically 50 points as a winger in your mid 30s is pretty solid. His production never really got going until his late 20s either and his best season was 66 points (on that first year Vegas team).
If he could come back and put up 40 points next year I wouldn’t say that’s not worth it.
I’d love to have him for another year at the 1.5-2mil range. He adds stability and he’s a great locker room presence. It sounds like he’s well aware he’ll take on a lesser role. 3rd line, PP2.
Love to see him back at like 2 mil anchoring the 3rd or 4th line
1 year, $3M, take it or leave it.
A slight pay cut, putting him on the 3rd line, still using him on the 2nd PP unit would be fantastic
Really hope he doesn’t comeback. He’s old n slow and he’ll be taking up a spot for one of our younger guys.
1 year, $3M.
Stick him on the 4th with JFV (good chemistry) and Mazur, plus heavy usage on the power play.
Perron only comes back if Kane doesn’t resign. Simple as that.
Will probably not happen, but as a 3rd liner for 2mil and a year- hell yes