The Montreal Canadiens have dealt with so many injuries this season, and used so many players, we would forgive you if you completely forgot that Mathieu Perreault was a member of this team.
But the scrappy winger is a member of the Habs this season, signing a one-year contract worth $950,000 to join his hometown(ish) team for the 2021-22 campaign.
Perreault has played just 14 of the team’s games so far this season, suffering an injury early in the season that caused him to miss almost all of November, and then getting hurt again on December 14th and he hasn’t played in ten weeks.
The 34 year old will finally return to the lineup tonight as the Canadiens look to extend their winning streak to five games against the Ottawa Senators. He has three goals and four points in 14 games this season, but proved to be a solid depth scorer in the past with the Winnipeg Jets, Anaheim Ducks and Washington Capitals.
The combination of offensive ability and gritty determination made him an attractive depth piece for the Canadiens this season. Injuries have robbed him of a chance to shine with the team that is just a short drive from the Drummondville area where he grew up. He did have a hat trick in a game against the Detroit Red Wings, helping the Habs find their first win of the season.
Now, with the trade deadline approaching, the only question is, how many games does he get to play for the Canadiens before another team comes calling looking to acquire him via trade?
The trade deadline is just over three weeks away, and many contending teams would love to have a two-way depth player that can play any forward position like Perreault. He is an unrestricted free agent at season’s end so it makes sense for the Canadiens to move him for a mid-round draft pick.
It is unfortunate that Perreault’s time with the Canadiens have been severely limited by injuries. Hopefully he gets a chance to hear the hometown Bell Centre fans chant his name like they did when he had that three goal night early in the season.