David Perron’s summer took an unexpected turn, and now the veteran winger is trying to make the most of a late shot with the Stars.
At 38, Perron had spent months wondering whether another NHL season would come his way at all. He stayed busy at his home in Quebec, worked on his own game, and even helped coach his son’s hockey team while the league’s new 84-game season got moving without him. Then Stars general manager Jim Nill called, and Perron landed a one-year deal worth $850,000.
On Monday morning in Dallas, he was already out on the practice ice with his new teammates.
“I’m just very grateful, that’s all I can say,” Perron told reporters about his chance to join a contender and add to his 110 career playoff games. “You start thinking that might be it, but now that I’m here I’m hoping there’s a slingshot effect of the excitement and the gratefulness of being here.”
Perron didn’t hide the reality of the situation. He knows he’s arriving without the benefit of training camp or preseason, and he knows he’s coming in as the oldest player on the roster. Still, his message was less about age and more about opportunity.
“It’s a really good hockey team and I’m really excited to be here,” Perron said. “It’s a great opportunity for me to come in and pull on the rope with the guys.”
Dallas now adds another seasoned voice to a locker room that already has plenty of mileage and plenty of youth. Perron’s age tops the roster ahead of Jamie Benn (37), Tyler Myers (36), Matt Duchene (35), Casey DeSmith (35) and Tyler Seguin (34). At the same time, the Stars’ core of Roope Hintz (29), Miro Heiskanen (27), Jake Oettinger (27), Jason Robertson (27), Thomas Harley (25) and Wyatt Johnston (23) is in its prime, giving the veteran addition a clear place in the mix.
Perron also brings familiarity with the Central Division, and with Dallas in particular. He spent 11 seasons with the St.
Louis Blues and faced the Stars 47 times in the regular season alone. He said he has plenty of respect for Benn and Seguin, and noted that Dallas has long been one of his favorite places to play.
“Central Division…I feel comfortable here,” he said.
After the signing was announced, Benn and Seguin reached out to him, and Perron said he’s eager to become part of their group.
“The leadership is great, especially those two,” Perron said. “The way they have brought guys along here, all of the core guys with them, it’s really impressive. I’m looking forward to getting to know them more.”
The Stars are hoping Perron’s game fits cleanly into what they already do well. He arrives with 332 goals and 480 assists across his career, and last season he posted 13 goals and 15 assists in 65 games while splitting time between Ottawa and Detroit.
Stars coach Glen Gulutzan sees a player who can blend in quickly once he gets a few practices under his belt.
“He seems to fit what we’re doing,” Gulutzan said. “He’s really good on the walls, he’s good defensively, he’s got hockey IQ. He’s competitive, and he’s got a little bit of that antagonist quality, too.”
Gulutzan said Perron will get some time on the ice in practice before making his debut.
For Perron, the wait has already been long enough. Now he’s focused on squeezing the most out of this opportunity.
“It’s been a long summer…very long,” Perron said. “It is what it is, it’s a good league and I’m very lucky to be here.
I will do everything I can to take advantage of this situation. Open mind, open heart, work as hard as I can to do my part.”
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