Detroit Hockey Now’s Red Wings Review series is assessing every player who held a significant place in the fortunes of the 2022-23 Detroit Red Wings season. We’ll be looking at the highs and lows they experienced during the recently-completed campaign, as well as what the future holds for them in Detroit. Today, we feature left winger David Perron.
David Perron
Position: Left Wing
2022-23 totals (GP-G-A-PT): 82-24-32-56
Contract Status: Signed for 2023-24 season at an AAV of $4.75 million
Season Synopsis
Signed as an unrestricted free agent prior to the 2022-23 season, Perron’s arrival in Detroit was viewed as adding a proven goal scorer who would bring a veteran presence to the club’s young locker room. And that was exactly what he would deliver.
“Huge. Just for your culture, your growth going forward,” Detroit coach Derek Lalonde assessed of what Perron brought to the team. “I think he was one of the guys that drove that, he kept going and kept on the gas, obviously with his offense and the points he produced. Very important going forward and again, part of that core that’s going to be back next year.”
Perron’s 24 goals marked the seventh time in his NHL career and fourth time over the past five seasons that he’s ascended to the 20-goal plateau. He also suited up for all 82 games for only the third time during his 16-season NHL career.
2022-23 Red Wings Highlights
Perron fired the eighth hat-trick of his NHL career during a 7-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins at Little Caesars Arena on March 28. It was one of three multi-goal games he produced during the season.
He dished out his 400th career NHL assist on Nov. 12 at Los Angeles. Perron also collected his 700th NHL point with an assist on Feb. 16 at Calgary. And he played his 1,000th NHL game on Dec. 12 at Dallas, scoring a goal during his milestone contest.
2022-23 Red Wings Lowlight
From Dec. 29 through March 25, Perron endured a horrid goal-scoring drought that saw him tally just four times over a 39-game span. There were goalless skids of eight, 15 and nine games during that dry spell.
What Does His Detroit Future Hold?
The Red Wings will be expecting a similar contribution from Perron in 2023-24. He’ll be counted on for another 20-goal season and figures to be part of the first power-play unit, utilizing his impressive one-timer to capitalize during man-advantage situations. Perron was second on the club in goals (24) points (56), and power-play points (22). He led the Red Wings with 16 power-play assists.
From Perron’s point of view, he wants his Detroit future to include a playoff appearance following next season.
“I do think guys will be a little more invested knowing the standard has been elevated this year,” Perron said. “We got to keep doing that. There’s a long way to go.
“You see teams around the league, they have a lot of young players coming in draft picks, everyone’s thinking they’re going to trend up, but to me it doesn’t just happen that way. You got to keep pushing for more, keep investing every day. Even in practice. I thought the quality of our practices increased a lot throughout each month.”
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