Derek Van Diest: Perron A Competitor
PITTSBURGH (KDKA 93-7 The Fan)- The Penguins acquired winger David Perron from the Edmonton Oilers Friday for forward Rob Klinkhammer and a 2015 first-round draft pick.
Derek Van Diest of the Edmonton Sun told Bob Pompeani that Perron was a fan favorite in Edmonton.
"He's going to give you everything he has every night. He's been struggling a little bit this year, he had a fantastic year last year. He scored 28 goals for the Oilers last year," Van Diest said. "I think what makes David Perron such a special player is that despite his struggles this year, he's a competitor."
Van Diest said that part of the reason for Perron's low goal total might have been a slow start as he recovered from offseason hip surgery.
"I think he got off to a late start with his hip, and he had maybe lost a step," Van Diest said. "He wasn't played up in the lineup, he was played a little back in the lineup, and I think that really hurt him when it came to his goal scoring because last year he was playing on the top line, he was playing on the top power play unit."