On the Block: Mathieu Perreault

Mathieu Perreault is having a rough year.

He’s struggled to stay healthy and has seen a decline in production which has lead to his name being in the trade rumour mill. Perreault is an affordable skilled forward that can help many teams through the course of a playoff run. He is a forty point producer on the Jets, and has helped on any line he’s played on. When we get to this point in the season, you have to consider if the Jets are a buying team or a selling team.

So the question is do the Winnipeg Jets move Perreault before the trade deadline?

Perreault is a veteran that has played all forward positions in his career. During the past few seasons in Winnipeg, he has mostly played on the left wing with some appearances at centre and consistently plays a big part on the powerplay unit. His presence in the locker room on a young Jets team has been an asset as he’s been on winning teams in the past, and what he has learned could still help a rebuilding Jets team. His numbers have dipped this year because of injuries, but that doesn’t mean he can’t return to the forty point player he once was. Perreault still holds a lot of value for the Winnipeg Jets.

Mathieu Perreault can help teams in need of depth, being he is a talented undersized winger, who can also play down the middle. What makes Perreault attractive to teams is that he only costs $3 million this year. Unfortunately for teams looking for a rental player, Perreault has an extension that kicks in July 1st , that will have him under contract until 2021 at a cap hit of just over $4 million. Perreault is a player capable of reaching the forty point plateau, as he has cracked that mark for the past three seasons. Trading Perreault could help the Jets free up cap space, and would also help with the expansion draft as the Jets wouldn’t have to worry about possibly losing Perreault for nothing, if they don’t protect him.

Mathieu Perreault would fit in either a cup contending team as a depth player, or a younger team playing a veteran leadership role.

The Carolina Hurricanes could be a team that picks him up for the long term. Getting Perreault could help down the road with the younger roster, as Carolina goes through their rebuild. The Hurricanes have plenty of cap space so they could afford to have a player like Perreault while his next contract expires in 2021.

The Buffalo Sabres would be another good fit as the team is further along in their rebuild, and are only a few points out of the playoffs. Adding Perreault would be an upgrade over Evan Rodrigues for the third line centre role. Perreault could give them the needed talent, and leadership to get them to take the next step.

It’s been a trying season in Brooklyn for the New York Islanders, after two big loses in Kyle Okposo and Frans Nielsen in the off season. The Islanders have struggled to pick up wins, but since the recent resurgence they are now sitting just three points out of a playoff spot. Perreault would fit nicely centring the third line with former Capitals teammate Jason Chimera and former Jets teammate Andrew Ladd on the wings. Perhaps old chemistry could help push them into the post season.

Florida Panthers have been bit by the injury bug this season, as they lost two top line players for a good portion of the season. Things seem to be turning around now as the Panthers have their top players back and are in the middle of a fight for a playoff spot. The Panthers could really benefit from adding Perreault, as he could work well playing left wing on a line centered by Nick Bjugstad and Jonathan Marchessault. Like the Hurricanes, the Panthers have a lot of cap space so they could afford to pick up Perreault, and keep him through his contract extension.

Imagining the Jets trading Perreault to a central division team would be tough as the teams in the pacific division don’t have much cap space, and wouldn’t really benefit taking on Perreault’s contract. The eastern conference would be a better fit for Mathieu Perreault, these are teams in need of someone of his caliber and have the cap space to take him on. It will be hard to trade Perreault not only because of his contract, but because of the up coming expansion draft. It’s any ones guess if he gets moved or not.