From The Silky Mitten State: The math isn't easy, but how can the Red Wings find a place for David Perron on the roster moving forward?
It will be an offseason of difficult decisions for Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman, and one of those decisions will concern 35-year-old winger David Perron, who will turn 36 before the puck drops on the 2024-25 season.
Jan 23, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Red Wings left wing David Perron (57) receives congratulations from teammates after scoring in the first period against the Dallas Stars at Little Caesars ArenaPerron just completed a two-year, $9.5 million deal signed as an unrestricted free agent in July 2022. Though the Red Wings became Perron's sixth NHL team, that deal represented his first contract signed with any team other than the St. Louis Blues (his other destinations came via trade or the expansion draft).
He scored 17 goals and gave 30 assists for 47 points in 76 games, averaging 15:38 of ice time. Perron generally played in Detroit's top six, while also serving as a fixture on the Red Wings top power play.
On the most recent episode of The Silky Mitten State, my co-host Connor Earegood and I discussed Perron's potential future. Both of us are big fans of Perron's game, while also believing him to be an important piece of the Red Wings dressing room. However, we were a bit pessimistic about the practicality of bringing him back.
Then, at his end-of-season press availability (one day after that episode was recorded), Perron provided reason for optimism that he might remain in Detroit a bit longer. “There’s no reason at this point to think about anywhere else or anything else,” Perron said of the Red Wings at his end-of-season interview. “I hope it works out.”
That outlook, combined with Patrick Kane's apparent desire to explore free agency, suggests that there may well be a place for Perron in Detroit moving forward. For an excerpt of our discussion, check out the featured video above. For the full episode, go to Spotify or Apple Podcasts: