Trading For David Perron Will Be Considered A Steal For Years To Come
There are many areas where the Pittsburgh Penguins are struggling, but new addition David Perron is not. Since being acquired from the Edmonton Oilers, Perron has been a fantastic addition and he continues to improve nightly. In his first 12 games with his new club, David Perron has netted 9 points (6 G – 3 A) and has been a -6 skater.
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His tenure in Pittsburgh started with a bang as the talented left wing scored in his first game as a Penguin. It has been impressive to watch how quickly David Perron has become comfortable in the black and gold uniform. However, there is one aspect of his game to be concerned with, his streaky play. It seems watching his (admittedly) very brief tenure, he has made great plays but sometimes seems to disappear from the game and the scoresheet. Perhaps some of the inconsistencies are due to being the “new kid on the block” or playing with the curious Sidney Crosby.
Looking back on his season prior to being traded with the Oilers, the theme is consistent. David Perron is a fantastic two way forward but his scoring has always been streaky. Considering every game this season (including his time in Edmonton), Perron has six streaks of three of more games where he was held without a point. Maybe that is due to playing for an Edmonton team devoid of talent and now being unfamiliar with Pittsburgh, but the trend is something to watch moving forward.
If David Perron (and really Sidney Crosby) can fix their streaky play, the Perron addition will be considered a steal for years to come. When you consider what the Penguins gave up to get David Perron, a first round pick and Rob Klinkhammer, it is next to nothing. Not to say first round picks are not valuable but on a team that is trying to win now, a pick will help the future. Plus the other thing about a draft pick is that by the time the Penguins usually pick, the quality forwards are gone.
May 13, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Olli Maatta (3) shoots the puck against the New York Rangers during the second period in game seven of the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Rangers won 2-1 and took the series 4 games to 3. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
That is the precise reason why the Pens have the plethora of talented young defenders. In the late first round the surefire forwards have been selected but you can still select a quality defender. Let’s take a look at the current Penguins defensive prosepcts: Simon Despres (2009, 30th overall) Olli Maatta (2012, 22nd overall) Brian Dumoulin (2009, 51st overall) Scott Harrington (2011, 54th overall) Derrick Pouliot (2012, 8th overall) Robert Bortuzzo (2007, 78th overall).
I realize that not all of these prospects are first round picks, but it is the realization that quality defenders are much easier to find later in the draft and often times there are more of them available. So with the Penguins obvious depth on defense and the understanding that defenders are usually taken with a late pick, this trade makes total sense.
Given the low asking price, the talent of David Perron and his fast adaptation to playing with one of the best players in the league in Crosby, this trade is an absolute steal for the Pittsburgh Penguins.