The Vegas Golden Knights seem to be parting ways with the veteran forward.
Free agency opens in less than 24 hours, and the Vegas Golden Knights are still quiet. That doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing, but this team needs to fill its holes before all the top free agents head elsewhere. They even figured out that one of their own is taking his talents to another city.
On Friday, Luca Sbisa’s agent said his client is looking at other opportunities around the NHL. Losing Sbisa isn’t a lethal blow; however, it doesn’t help the situation either. And after finding out that one of the Golden Knights top six forwards will no longer be on the team is salt in the wounds.
Reports have surfaced that David Perron has up to five teams interested in him and the Golden Knights aren’t one of those teams. And reports also state the veteran forward is “unlikely” to return to Vegas. There’s no other way to put it; this is a huge loss for the Golden Knights.
Perron had the best statistical year of his career with the Golden Knights in 2017-18. In 70 games played, he totaled 16 goals, 50 assists, and 66 points. Being on a line that involved James Neal and Erik Haula hugely benefitted him.
Haula made the line go and made carrying the puck in the neutral zone look easy. Perron dished both of his linemates passes thanks to his wild playing ability off the wing. And Neal was the bonafide sharpshooter of that line.
Where the Golden Knights will miss Perron the most is in the locker room. There’s no doubt he was a bigtime leader when the going got tough. Perron also shared a special bond with teammate Jonathan Marchessault.
During the “Home Team” special, Perron and Marchessault roomed together and became real tight. The Sherbrooke, Quebec native was well liked in the locker room no matter what the situation was.
The 30-year old made it clear that he wanted to stay put in Vegas during his exit interview. Although, Perron’s demands may be a little more than what Golden Knights general manager George McPhee thought.
The name that keeps coming up in all this Perron talk is the Arizona Coyotes. That means if he were to sign there, the Golden Knights would see plenty of Perron in the future.
Next: Vegas Golden Knights Parting Ways With Luca Sbisa
All in all, this puts the Vegas Golden Knights in a pretty precarious position. With Neal and Perron set to leave Vegas, who fills those roles? McPhee better pulls another rabbit out of his hat in his second season, or the team will be left with the scraps in free agency.