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The 2026 NHL Free Agency period officially begins at 12 p.m. ET on Wednesday, and while most of the speculation surrounding the Detroit Red Wings is the ongoing trade request saga of Dylan Larkin, the club still has multiple pending unrestricted free agents.
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As of 8:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Patrick Kane remains unsigned. The club has spoken openly about wanting him back for another season, and Kane himself said there was mutual interest during his season-ending media availability.
And while the Red Wings are expected to move on from the likes of James van Riemsdyk and Cam Talbot, one pending UFA they could potentially retain is David Perron.
According to NHL Insider Pierre LeBrun, the Red Wings and Perron are “talking” about a new contract, though there is still a chance he could head to the open market.
“David Perron, 38, intends to play again next season,” LeBrun wrote. “Perron, who had 13 goals between the Ottawa Senators and the Detroit Red Wings last season, is still talking to the Red Wings, but if something can’t be worked out there, he is looking to hit the open market.”
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Perron, who signed a two-year contract with the Red Wings in 2022, was a valuable veteran voice in the locker room and provided timely scoring. But he departed the club in 2024 to sign a two-year deal with the divisional rival Ottawa Senators, whom he helped reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs last spring.
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However, he missed a good portion of this most recent season after undergoing surgery, and was re-acquired by the Red Wings at the Trade Deadline for a conditional fourth-round pick.
In the 15 games he played after returning to Detroit, Perron scored three goals with no assists.
The 38-year-old veteran has played in 1,239 career NHL games, and has accumulated 332 goals with 480 assists. He also helped the St. Louis Blues win the Stanley Cup In 2019.
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