Blackhawks: Signing Brendan Perlini

It was announced earlier today that the Oilers would not be offering F Brendan Perlini a qualifying offer. The Blackhawks have nothing left to lose, so bringing in a guy like Perlini on a two way deal isn’t anything crazy, but is something that could pan out really well for the team, as it’s a perfect example of a low risk, high reward contract. Perlini started hot in the pre-season with the Oilers and made the opening night roster, but fell out of favour after that and spent most of the season in the AHL with Bakersfield. If Perlini signs and finds his rhythm with the Blackhawks, he could become a really solid middle six player moving forward. 

Perlini, 26, stands at 6’3, 211 pounds. The size alone makes him an appealing free agent. He is a physical guy that can produce when put into the proper scenario. Last season with the Oilers, Perlini put up 5 points through 23 games. In his 262 game career, Perlini has 50 goals and 31 assists for a total of 81 points. While he’s not the most ideal player and probably won’t be the most sought after free agent this off-season, signing him to a 1-2 year, two way contract for $750-$900k AAV is a win-win. This contract gives the Blackhawks some serious breathing room and pencils him in as an extra forward. If it doesn’t pan out, he spends his season(s) in the AHL. 

To me, what makes Perlini appealing is his attitude off the ice. The Blackhawks are trying to recreate their vision as a team and build from the ground up. Bringing in a guy like Perlini who quickly became a fan favourite in Edmonton would add positives to their dressing room, and their overall outlook as an organization. He knows when to get to work, and he knows how to be a leader off the ice. He’s an ideal player, and he just wants to play the game he loves.