(Editor’s Note: This is another installment of a player-by-player analysis of the Detroit Red Wings’ roster for the 2025-26 season. The emphasis is on how each player performed and their future in the organization. Today, we discuss David Perron, who just completed his second stint with Detroit.)

Age: 37, will turn 38 on May 28.

Contract Status: Perron will become a UFA on July 1.

Last season’s contributions: Perron scored three goals in 16 games for Detroit and was minus-nine. Combined with his Ottawa totals, the veteran left-winger posted 13-15-28 numbers in 65 games and was minus-seven.

Grade: D

Past

Perron had won a Stanley Cup with St. Louis in 2018-19 and was a multiple 20-goal scorer when the Red Wings opted to sign him as a UFA in the summer of 2022. That first season in Detroit, Perron scored 24 goals, which was second on the team. Both players and staff raved about the leadership tendencies and the confidence that oozed from Perron, positively affecting the entire team.

However, when he slumped to 17 goals in 2023-24, the Red Wings opted to move on from Perron. He would sign as a UFA with the Ottawa Senators.

Present

Perron’s first stint in Detroit was impressive, and that’s why Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman moved to reacquire the veteran forward from the Senators at the trade deadline. Perhaps the fact that the Senators were willing to move a veteran with a Stanley Cup-winning pedigree to a team they were battling for a playoff spot should have been a red flag for the Red Wings.

The Flyers may have broken the Detroit Red Wings franchise tonight.

David Perron gets a 10 minute misconduct and goes after the official. pic.twitter.com/GN0a8IxlZR

— Flyers Nation (@FlyersNation) March 29, 2026

Of Perron’s three goals for Detroit, two came in Detroit’s last three games, after the team was all but eliminated from the playoff picture. Perron went pointless through his first eight games for the Wings. He was a plus player in just three of 16 games.

His Corsi For% of 45.6 was tied for 21st on the team. Perron’s PDO of 87.7 ranked 28th for the club. And he failed to provide any boost to Detroit’s utter lack of secondary scoring.

Future

If Perron has an NHL future, it won’t be with the Red Wings. He’ll be 38 when training camp arrives. The seven-time 20-goal scorer has accounted for nine and 13 goals, respectively, over the past two seasons.

His point totals over the past two seasons were Perron’s lowest since the 2012-13 season. If an NHL team views Perron’s leadership qualities as being worth suiting up a declining player in their bottom-six forwards, then Perron figures to get an NHL contract. However, he might be left to carve out a spot on an NHL roster through a training camp PTO.