The Ottawa Senators have a young team led by their superstar duo of Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stutzle. Shane Pinto, Drake Batherson and Jake Sanderson are other young exciting players to watch out for this season.
When a team is young and inexperienced, it's important for a team to have veteran players who make an impact on the team. Claude Giroux, Travis Hamonic and newly signed Nick Cousins will offer veteran presence and leadership for Ottawa this season.
However, some veteran players when they sign with a new team, might not have intentions of staying with that particular team for a long time. One veteran who signed with the Senators this past free agency, has a different desire to help the Senators, and it will excite the team and fans with recent comments.
David Perron compliments Senators core and wants to be part of it
Senators newly signed forward David Perron recently sat down with Frank Seravalli on the Frankly Speaking Podcast to discuss the upcoming 2024-25 season for the Senators. On the podcast, Perron spoke highly of the Senators and their young core.
Had fun chatting with @frank_seravalli https://t.co/bk6C4XUWCM
— David Perron (@DP_57) October 8, 2024
"The Sens have a good core and I want to be a part of that," Perron said on the podcast.
Hearing Perron say that as a 36-year-old veteran brings excitement for the Senator fans, but also give the Senators a spark knowing that Perron is ready to contribute big for the Senators this season, and Perron has the ability to do so.
Since the 2017-18 season, Perron has recorded over 45 points every season. Perron recorded a 60-point season twice. Perron spent the past two seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, and Perron recorded a 56-point season in the 2022-23 season, and a 47-point season last season.
Perron signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the Senators when free agency began. Perron will help bring leadership, offensive production, physicality and toughness to a young Senators team that needs it. Perron also brings championship pedigree as he was a member of the 2019 St. Louis Blues Stanley Cup championship team.
With Perron making it clear that he wants to be in Ottawa with its young core, it helps Ottawa knowing they have a veteran leader who doesn't want to leave. If Ottawa has its breakthrough season this season, it will help Perron have more interest in staying with Ottawa when his contract expires in 2026.
At $4 million per year until 2026, Perron's contract with his production is a steal. Perron saying he wants to be part of Ottawa's core could help him get a new contract, and Perron would still be an excellent veteran to have for the team.