David Perron

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Perron's early path was not straightforward; overlooked twice in the QMJHL midget draft, he played for the Saint-Jérôme Panthers in the Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League, recording 69 points in 51 games without being interviewed by any NHL teams. Once with the Lewiston Maineiacs, he led them to their first President's Cup, scoring 39 goals and 83 points as a rookie. In his NHL debut season (2007–08), he became the fifth youngest skater in Blues history at 19 years, 137 days old. A defining early moment occurred on November 3, 2007, when he scored his first goal off a pass from Doug Weight against the Chicago Blackhawks. His career faced a major turning point on November 4, 2010, when an elbow to the temple by Joe Thornton caused a season-ending concussion that sidelined him for 13 months, breaking his 167-game streak. He later returned to score the series-winning goal in the 2012 playoffs against San Jose before winning the Stanley Cup with St. Louis in 2019.

In Their Own Story

In July 2013, Perron was traded to the Edmonton Oilers for Magnus Pääjärvi and a 2014 second-round pick. Coach Dallas Eakins praised his competitiveness, noting he had "that little bit of nasty in him." However, his time in Edmonton was marred by injuries that also prevented him from participating in the 2014 IIHF World Championship. After two years, he moved through Pittsburgh and Anaheim before returning to St. Louis in 2016 for his third stint. In 2017, he was selected by the Vegas Golden Knights in the expansion draft, where he enjoyed a career-high season. He eventually returned to St. Louis to win the 2019 Stanley Cup. His relationship with Detroit began in 2022 as his first free-agent contract not signed with St. Louis. Two seasons later, he moved to Ottawa before being traded back to Detroit in 2026.

Reader's Guide

Perron plays as a left winger and is currently an unrestricted free agent. He was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the first round, 26th overall, in the 2007 NHL entry draft. His professional career has seen him play for the Blues (2007–2013), Edmonton Oilers (2013–2015), Pittsburgh Penguins, Anaheim Ducks, Vegas Golden Knights, and St. Louis again before his tenure with Detroit starting in 2022. In St. Louis, he formed a line known as the "Kid Line" with Patrik Berglund and T. J. Oshie to boost team energy. He signed a four-year, $15.25 million contract extension with the Blues after the 2012 playoffs. Despite a difficult relationship with coach Ken Hitchcock that saw him relegated to the fourth line or scratched for being too aggressive, he remained a key contributor. His journey includes a unique anecdote from his first training camp where coach Andy Murray helped him set up his first bank account and ordered staff to paint Perron's white skates black.

Did You Know?

• Perron was overlooked twice in the QMJHL midget draft before being selected in 2006.
• He became the fifth youngest skater in Blues history at 19 years and 137 days old during his NHL debut.
• A concussion from a hit by Joe Thornton caused him to miss 13 months of play, ending a 167-game streak.
• Coach Andy Murray helped Perron set up his first bank account because language differences prevented the player from handling his own finances initially.
• Perron scored the series-winning goal in the 2012 playoffs by deflecting an Alex Pietrangelo shot against San Jose.