Meet the Future of the Blues: David Perron

“I’m really looking forward to taking the next step. Us young guys are getting older and getting some season under our wings. We’re really going to have to get going and take that next step. I’m one of the guys that is going to try and lead the players that way.”-Blues forward David Perron in an interview on the Bernie Miklasz Show

Earlier this summer, one of the major investment companies announced that it would be divesting its shares in the Saint Louis Blues as soon as another suitor was found. This news coupled with the extra revenue lost when the team failed to make the playoffs, left GM Doug Armstrong’s hands tied. With a smaller-than-anticipated budget, it became obvious that the Blues front office could not afford a big-name free agent while still re-signing their numerous free agents.

For 22-year-old forward David Perron, all this means that he will be relied upon heavily to step-up and become that prolific scorer his team desperately needs, but can’t quite afford.

Born in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Perron entered the 2007 draft as Central Scouting’s 10^th best North American prospect. This lofty ranking was not undeserved.

During his first and only season in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Perron, playing for the Lewiston Maineiacs, scored a team-high 39 goals and tallied 83 points over 70 games. That season he led the Maineiacs to their first QMJHL championship, scoring 12 goals and adding 16 assists.

Following his ’06-’07 QMJHL campaign, NHL Central Scouting’s Kim Houston told Hockey’s Future writer Kevin Forbes that Perron has “some deadly one-on-one skills and some great puck skills and he’s always seems to know where that puck is…I’ve been impressed with him.”

Another important facet of Perron’s game is his work ethic. Despite the obvious raw talent he possesses, Perron is constantly working to improve his game. His driven approach to the game of hockey did not just start when he reached the NHL. Perron has been working at improving his game since he was in the QMJHL.

Lewiston head coach Clem Jodoin told Forbes that even though Perron was not a perfect hockey player; he always works to improve his weaknesses. “In Lewiston, we have the ice as long as we want, so sometimes the practice starts at ten o’clock on the ice and he comes off the ice at noon, so he’s always on the ice, two and a half, three hours a day.”

Perron’s hard work finally paid off in 2007 when he was drafted 27^th overall by the Saint Louis Blues. It should be noted that the future Blues forward was drafted in a first round that included Patrick Kane and Lars Eller.

As soon as he was drafted Perron made an impact. After a strong training camp, it was announced that Perron, just three years removed from Midget C level in Fleurimont, would start the 2007-’08 season playing with the Saint Louis Blues.

Progression seems to be a staple of Perron’s career. Just a month after it was announced he would be playing in the NHL, the Blues rookie netted his first career goal against the Chicago Blackhawks. Two years later, on November 10, 2009, he scored his first NHL hat trick against the Vancouver Canucks.

Perron’s numbers have improved as well. From QJAHL to QMJHL, his goals scored increased from 24 to 39. In the NHL, he has gone from 13 goals during his rookie campaign to 15 in ’08-’09 to a new career high, 20 goals scored last season.

Unlike Patrick Kane and Sidney Crosby, players whom Perron most resembles in terms of his ability to create plays through his stick handling abilities, his physicality and confidence makes him more of a balanced hockey player. By no means am I giving Perron the edge over Crosby or Kane, but his willingness to slam other players and to push around opposing defenders in front of the net sets him apart from Kane and Crosby who tend to let their respective team’s enforcers handle the dirty work. Often when there is a congregation around the net following a play, Perron is found in the middle of it.

St. Louis Post Dispatch writer Jeff Gordon broke down some of the other young players on the Blues roster and noted what they bring to the table. It’s a very good article and I strongly recommend you reading the whole thing, but here is a quick rundown of what Perron’s teammates bring and what makes him unique:

-TJ Oshie is “a tempo-setter” through his agility and physicality. He “shows flashes of becoming an impact scorer”

-David Backes is a power forward. Similar to Keith Tkachuck, he is willing to “crash the net and score dirty goals” and, like Oshie, has the “potential to become an impact scorer”

-Patrik Berglund’s “unusual size/skill combination makes him a potential 60- to 70-point center.”

-Alex Steen, who had a breakout season last year, is a “versatile forward” with the ability to blend “smoothly with other skilled forwards.”

Now to Perron, his unselfishness, natural ability to move around with the puck, and shooting skills make him the ultimate spark plug. With the tools around him, Perron has the ability to provide the spark necessary to light up the Blues offense and get it rolling.

Gordon writes that, “This season could define [Perron’s] career.”

Only time will tell if Perron will turn into the prolific scorer the Blues are missing, but if he continues to progress as he has throughout his career, he has the potential of leading the Blues to Lord Stanley’s Cup.

Thanks for reading!