Red Wings forward David Perron seems to be particularly amicable to giving interviews. He spoke with the Journal de Quebec recently regarding his decision to leave the Blues for the Red Wings, after St. Louis did not offer him a contract, and this evening, two more French-language interviews with Perron have emerged.
RDS’s Eric LeBlanc also spoke with Perron from the Gagne-Bergeron Pro-Am, and here’s what he had to say (roughly translated, of course):
After the shock, David Perron must rejoice
Quebec City: When he signed his new contract, at the opening of the free agency marketplace, David Perron was not in a hurry to grant interviews to RDS and TSN as we regularly see during special broadcasts.
To tell the truth, Perron needed time to take the blow. The blow being to have to leave the St. Louis Blues, where he imagined that his third stint would continue by the virtue of his convincing performances.
Shocked at not having received any genuinely serious offer from the Blues before the triggering of free agency, Perron fell back on his option of the Detroit Red Wings, who gave him a two-year contract for $9.5 million.
The Quebecer took a few days before giving his thoughts to Jeremy Rutherford, the journalist who covers the Blues for The Athletic. He needed time because he was shaken, and wanted to find common ground with the management of the Missouri-based Blues.
Perron even revealed that his children cried when he told them that a move was happening, and that his family would be leaving the city of St. Louis.
Tuesday, as part of the Gagne-Bergeron Pro-Am, Perron agreed to come back to this unexpected change.
“Of course it was disappointing, comparing it to the fact that I’ve spent several years of my career with the Blues, and 11 of my 15 seasons. My children grew up there, we were used to it, and we loved it. On this point, it’s very difficult,” said the 34-year-old right-shooter, who considered himself worthy of a serious offer.
“The season and my performance meant that I deserved, I think, to have a contract that would make sense and to stay with the team. It’s been a few weeks, though, so I think it’s time to turn the page and be excited to go to Detroit.”
Above all, Perron does not want to complain. He knows he ranks among the privileged in society. He’s come a long way to achieve it better than many other players.
In addition, he joins an organization led by Steve Yzerman, who stands out just as much as he did on the ice. It comes as the Red Wings aspire to heat up among teams fighting for the playoffs.
A hockey fanatic, Perron chose not to gorge himself on videos or information about his new, young teammates.
“Honestly, I don’t know the team that well. I want to arrive with my head free and clear, and give everyone the chance to have a first impression. I know we have good young people, and I always hear about them from my buddies or in interview,” explained Perron, on an interesting note.
If he was still among the Blues’ leading scorers last season–and their most productive player in the playoffs–perhaps Perron will have to show his leadership qualities more than ever.
“I will try to have a leadership role. I’m among the oldest, or the oldest, in fact. I’ve got a lot of pride in that, I was the youngest for a few years, and now I can live on the other side of the coin. I consider myself lucky, most players don’t get there,” he said.
Particularly in St. Louis, Perron was able to prepare for this stage of his career.
“I’ve been a leader with the Blues for several years. Maybe more backstage, without having a letter on my jersey. But in terms of the meetings of five or six players, I was in that group. I was also involved when it was necessary to speak with the coach, for asking for a day off, for example. I should still be part of that in Detroit. But I also want to be a leader on the ice. When you play well on the ice, your word carries more weight in the locker room,” said the author of 665 points in 973 regular-season games.
With Lucas Raymond, Moritz Seider and company, Perron might forget the disappointment of his divorce with the Blues. He also says that he is fascinated by what Yzerman is orchestrating in Detroit.
“It’s impressive and interesting. With what he built in Tampa, you see the culture he’s trying to replicate in Detroit. I’m happy to be part of this group. You look at the rest of the organization, there’s Nicklas Lidstrom, Niklas Kronwall, Kirk Maltby, Kris Draper, Shawn Horcoff and Dan Cleary,” Perron noted, as those former mainstays of the Red Wings have been hired into the hockey operations department. That’s a role that already seems to attract him for his second career.
Perron therefore sees himself in becoming, in turn, a mentor in Detroit in a uniform he’ll get used to wearing.
“I’ve had several [mentors], but I think of Keith Tkachuk. He was tough, but fair with me. The way of approaching young people is different now. Today, we know that young people play more video games, they stay in their hotel rooms more. It will be my role to create team spirit, bring the guys together, and create an identity,” said the skater from Sherbrooke.
