David Perron

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Growing up in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Perron played his junior hockey for the Lewiston Maineiacs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League where he led them to the 2006 President's Cup. As a result of his play, Perron was drafted in the first round, 26th overall, by the St. Louis Blues in the 2007 NHL entry draft. He began his professional career with the Blues organization before being traded to the Edmonton Oilers in 2013. His short stint in Edmonton was met with a myriad of injuries which also prohibited him from participating in the 2014 IIHF World Championship. After two years with the Oilers, Perron was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins and Anaheim Ducks before returning to St. Louis in 2016. He was left unprotected by the team for the 2017 NHL expansion draft and was selected by the Vegas Golden Knights for their inaugural season. Perron had a career-high season with the Golden Knights and returned to St. Louis for the third time where he won the Stanley Cup in 2019. He initially joined Detroit in 2022, the first free agent contract of his career not signed with St. Louis; he then signed with the Ottawa Senators two seasons later, before being traded back to Detroit in 2026.

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 was selected in the first round, 26th overall, by the St. Louis Blues in the 2007 NHL entry draft. He signed a three-year entry-level contract with the team on September 5, 2007. He made his NHL debut during the 2007–08 season, becoming the fifth youngest skater in Blues history at 19 years, 137 days old. On November 3, 2007, he scored his first career NHL goal. He finished his rookie season with 13 goals and 27 points in 62 games and was named to the 2008 NHL YoungStars Game. In the 2008–09 season, he recorded a team-leading 24 assists by January and earned a spot on the sophomore team at the NHL YoungStars Game. He concluded his sophomore campaign placing third on the team in scoring as the Blues reached the 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs. In the 2009–10 season, he scored his first NHL regular season hat trick on November 10, 2009, and finished with a then-career high 20 goals in 82 games. During the summer of 2010, he signed a two-year contract worth $4.3 million. On November 4, 2010, he sustained a season-ending concussion from an elbow by Joe Thornton and missed 13 months. He returned in December 2011 and finished the 2011–12 season with 42 points in 57 games. In the 2012 playoffs, he scored the series-winning goal against the San Jose Sharks. He signed a four-year, $15.25 million contract extension with the Blues. In his final season with the team, he recorded 10 goals in 48 games.

Did You Know?

• Perron was overlooked twice in the QMJHL midget draft before being selected in 2006.
• He went undrafted in the 2006 NHL entry draft.
• Perron showed up to Blues practice with white skates, which coach Andy Murray ordered to be painted black.
• He scored his first NHL regular season hat trick on November 10, 2009, in a 6–1 win over the Vancouver Canucks.
• Perron's series-winning goal in the 2012 playoffs against the Sharks was voted by Blues fans as the Best Moment of the season.