Age: 27
Contract Status: Heading into the last year of the 4-year $15.25 million contract. Salary $4,250,000; cap hit $3,812,500.
2014-15 Stats
|
GP |
TOI/game |
Goals |
Assists |
Points |
CF% |
CF% rel |
Zone Start % |
PDO |
EDM |
38 |
16:00 |
5 |
14 |
19 |
51.9% |
3.2% |
51.4% |
94.9 |
PIT |
43 |
17:37 |
12 |
10 |
22 |
57.8% |
4.7% |
48.5% |
95.7 |
TOT |
81 |
17:20 |
17 |
24 |
41 |
55.1% |
4.3% |
49.9% |
95.3 |
Following a torrid start, his offensive production tapered off somewhat toward the end of the season. His underlying possession numbers look stupendously good, though. Although it's practically impossible to look bad playing with Crosby and Hornqvist, Perron's lightning-quick release and smooth hands were the perfect ingredients for the top line.
Most Frequent Linemates
|
GF% |
CF% |
Total 5v5 Time Together |
Sidney Crosby |
50.00% |
58.6% |
444:53 |
Chris Kunitz |
43.5% |
61.0% |
282:19 |
Patric Hornqvist |
56.2% |
56.8% |
152:15 |
It would be hard to look bad when you spend most of your even-strength TOI with a superb offensive creator (Crosby), excellent forechecker who battles along the boards (Kunitz) and a fearless crease-crasher (Hornqvist).
Usage
Perron received fewer offensive zone starts in Pittsburgh then in Edmonton, but was paired with far superior possession players, so his bubble is understandably looking great.
GIFs of the Year
In his first game following the trade, Perron struck immediately following a great pass from Crosby.
That release. Those hands. Incredible.
Perron's shot is the closest thing we've had to replace James Neal's deadly weapon.
Bob doesn't really stand a chance here. Filthy.
Preseason Expectations
Perron was at or near the top of everybody's trade deadline wish lists during the first half of the season. Expectations were only heightened when reports surfaced detailing his unhappiness in Edmonton. When Jim Rutherford sent our 2015 first-round pick and Rob Klinkhammer to Edmonton in exchange for Perron, who still had a full year left on his contract after 2014-15, it was almost anti-climactic. Did Pittsburgh give up too much in the trade? Was Klinkhammer written off too early? There are varied opinions on that.
Verdict
Perron looked ridiculously good in Pittsburgh in the weeks following the trade, as the goals and wins kept piling on. As March turned into April he slowed down, though, and wasn't nearly as impactful in the playoffs. I thought his skill set was an excellent fit on the top line. Although Patric Hornqvist (who was the direct return in the Neal trade) was even better than advertised, it was Perron who ended up replacing Neal in kind.
I look forward to watching Perron in the 2015-16 season and would be very favorably inclined to seeing him extended in Pittsburgh. He just turned 27 last week and has already amassed 499 regular-season and 24 playoff games in the NHL. He's young, he's very experienced, and he has been durable in his first 8 NHL seasons. He is a blue chip player who is not out of place next to either Crosby or Malkin, and he also belongs on the top power play unit.
***
Feel free to vote and rate Perron's season with the Penguins. 1 indicates that you were massively disappointed in him; 10 suggests that he exceeded even your wildest expectations.