Perron sheds non-contact jersey, signaling imminent return and injecting vital scoring punch as Red Wings chase playoff spot.
The Detroit Red Wings are likely to see the return of veteran forward David Perron, who was acquired at the trade deadline from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a conditional 2026 fourth-round pick.
According to the trade conditions, Ottawa will receive the pick if Perron appears in a game before the end of the regular season or during the playoffs. If Detroit advances to the second round and Perron plays in at least 50 percent of the team’s first-round games, the pick upgrades to a 2026 third-rounder.
Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman addressed the move after the trade, saying, “We know exactly what David's injury is, we know exactly where he is in his rehab, and we anticipate him being roughly 14 days away from playing. Obviously, we're comfortable doing that and making this trade with him.”
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Perron, who has been sidelined with a groin injury, has returned to practice and on Tuesday wore a full-contact jersey, suggesting he is on track to rejoin the lineup. If the timeline holds, Perron could return as early as next Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens or the following Saturday versus the Boston Bruins.
This season, Perron has totaled 10 goals and 15 assists for 25 points in 49 games. His return would provide much-needed depth scoring for Detroit, which has managed just 22 goals over its last 11 games. The addition of Perron could be a key factor during the Red Wings most crucial part of their season as they push towards the playoffs.
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