Ranking The Top 20 Ottawa Senators Prospects: #20-16
By Jack Leiper
18. Francis Perron
Forward – Rouyn Norunda Huskies — 2014 7th round pick
(Ottawa Senators)
QMJHL 6foot0 163lbs
Francis Perron was a 2014 7th rounder of the Ottawa Senators. In his two QMJHL seasons, Perron has played at greater than a PPG pace. Considering Perron wasn’t expected to fall to the 7th round, a slide to the Senators at #190 gave the Sens a player who was a touted QMJHL pick.
Perron is listed generously at 6foot0 and 163lbs; certainly an undersized player. His 76 points in 64 games tell us he can play and the scouting reports seem to favour his potential as a scoring forward. Perron agreed with those reports as he gave an interview to Puck Daddy, stating the following when asked about his game
"“I’m a skilled forward. I would say my hockey sense is my main strength. I’ve always been known as an offensive player, on the PP and on the first two lines.”"
The next step forward for Perron involves another season in the QMJHL. He should lead the Rouyn-Norunda Huskies in scoring (like he came oh so close to doing so this season) and he could see AHL time as early as 2016-17.
Perron is a long term project who has shown he can score at the CHL level. A lot of players have overcome greater odds to play in the NHL and while Perron’s draft status hurts him, don’t rule out any possibilities moving forward.