Detroit Red Wings left wing David Perron (57) against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the third period of an NHL hockey game Monday, April 13, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
Chris O’Meara/AP
Not knowing whether his playing days were over, David Perron did all he could this offseason to stay around the game.
He tried to stay in shape and train as if he were in a training camp of his own when he didn’t receive a call from any of the 32 NHL teams by Sept. 15.
He also kept his hockey mind in shape, coaching his 11-year-old son’s team back home in Magog, Quebec, up until Sunday when he got on a flight to Dallas.
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“I was 3-0-2,” Perron said. “I might be a coach by the end of this.”
The veteran forward joined the Stars on a one-year, prorated, $850,000 deal Friday, embarking on his 20th season in the NHL. He participated in his first skate with the team Monday morning at American Airlines Center.
“He looked good. We threw lots at him today,” Stars coach Glen Gulutzan said. “You can tell he’s been skating. He’s almost played every system, so it’s easy for him to get up to speed.”
Gulutzan said he and GM Jim Nill made the call to add Perron midseason after Matt Duchene’s core surgery, which will sideline him for three months, and Oskar Bäck’s finger injury, which could keep him off the ice for a month.
“When you get some injuries, you know where your numbers are,” Gulutzan said. “You don’t want to get thin this time of year. Jim’s been at this a long time. He looked at the league. The league’s getting very banged up right now, too, so then players are going to become more scarce. A lot of that, too, is about protecting yourself.”
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Perron likely won’t play in Tuesday’s home game against the Boston Bruins, as Gulutzan wants the forward to have a few practices under his belt and learn the team’s systems. But he is expected to debut at some point during the upcoming six-game homestand.
When Perron does take the ice for the first time in victory green, he’ll wear No. 16 — and become the first Stars player to do so since Joe Pavelski retired in 2024.
Perron’s normal number, 57, is already worn by Tyler Myers. Even though No. 16 isn’t retired, Perron said he texted Pavelski to get the green light.
“I showed the list to my two oldest, and they both said the same number without me saying anything,” he said. “I did text Joe Pavelski to make sure it was fine. He was obviously very welcoming and a super nice guy about it.”
Perron has appeared in 1,239 games and recorded 812 points (332 goals and 480 assists) in his career. He most recently split last season between the Ottawa Senators and Detroit Red Wings but spent most of his career with the St. Louis Blues where he won a Stanley Cup in 2019.
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He said the Central Division remains familiar to him, and he always remembered his road trips to Dallas fondly. Perron even played his 1,000th game at American Airlines Center in 2022.
“It’s a really good hockey team, great city, and I’m very excited to be here,” he said. “It’s a really good opportunity for me to come in and just do whatever is necessary to help and pull on the rope with the guys.”
And the Stars could use his help.
The Stars rank 28th in the league in goals for per game (2.38). Perron has crossed the 20-goal mark seven times in his career.
While Dallas isn’t necessarily expecting that kind of output from him this late in his career, any offense he can bring to the bottom six will help.
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“It’s been a long summer,” Perron said. “You start thinking that might be it. It’s kind of the slingshot effect, hopefully, of the excitement and the gratefulness and everything to be here. That’s what I’m taking in right now.
“I will do everything I can to take advantage of this situation. I’m coming in with an open mind, open heart and will work as hard as I can to do my part and prove that it’s been a good decision.”