Who is David Perron? Red Wings add veteran forward from Ottawa Senators for conditional fourth-round draft pick

The Ottawa Senators made a late move ahead of the NHL trade deadline on Thursday, sending veteran forward David Perron to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for a conditional fourth-round selection in the 2026 NHL Draft. The trade came hours before the league’s 3 PM ET Friday deadline. Perron, 37, appeared in 49 games for Ottawa this season, recording 10 goals and 25 total points. The experienced winger is currently in the final season of a two-year contract worth $8 million.


The move marks a return to Detroit for Perron, who previously played for the Red Wings between 2022 and 2024. During that stint, he was a productive presence for the team, scoring 41 goals and collecting 103 points across 158 games before eventually signing with Ottawa.


Over the course of his lengthy NHL career, Perron has suited up for seven different franchises. In 1,223 regular-season games, he has compiled 329 goals and 480 assists. Along with Ottawa and Detroit, he has also played for the St. Louis Blues, Edmonton Oilers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Anaheim Ducks and Vegas Golden Knights.

Perron was a member of the St. Louis Blues squad that captured the Stanley Cup in 2019. During the playoff run, Perron contributed seven goals and 16 points in 26 games, helping the franchise secure its first championship title.

Earlier in the day, the Senators completed another trade by acquiring forward Warren Foegele from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for a second-round draft pick.

Both Detroit and Ottawa are battling for postseason positioning in the highly competitive Atlantic Division. Entering Thursday, the Red Wings held third place with 77 points, while the Senators trailed the final Eastern Conference Wild Card position by six points with 67.