Francis Perron (born January 5, 1996) is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger currently playing for HC Ajoie of the National League (NL). He was drafted by the Ottawa Senators in the seventh round, 192nd overall, of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.
Playing career
Junior Perron played major junior hockey in the Quebec Major Junior League (QMJHL) for the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies from 2012 to 2016. He emerged as a top offensive talent, particularly in his final season (2015–16), where he served as team captain. That year, he led the QMJHL in scoring with 108 points (41 goals, 67 assists) in 62 regular-season games, earning him the Jean Béliveau Trophy. He continued his strong play in the postseason, contributing 33 points in 20 games as the Huskies won the President's Cup as QMJHL champions and subsequently competed in the Memorial Cup.
Professional Perron signed an entry-level contract with the Ottawa Senators in March 2016, making his professional debut with their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Binghamton Senators (later Belleville Senators). He spent several seasons developing in the AHL.
He made his National Hockey League (NHL) debut with the Ottawa Senators during the 2018–19 season, appearing in 17 games and recording one assist. On January 2, 2019, Perron was traded by the Senators, along with a 2020 seventh-round pick, to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Dylan DeMelo. He primarily played for the Sharks' AHL affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda, for the remainder of that season and the following.
Perron was traded again on February 22, 2020, to the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for a conditional seventh-round pick in 2020. He was assigned to the Manitoba Moose, the Jets' AHL affiliate, where he played for two seasons, including signing a one-year AHL contract with the team in October 2020.
On July 28, 2022, Perron signed a one-year AHL contract with the Abbotsford Canucks, where he played the 2022–23 season.
On August 1, 2023, Perron opted to continue his career in Europe, signing a one-year contract with HC Ajoie of the Swiss National League (NL).
Career statistics
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012–13 | Rouyn-Noranda Huskies | QMJHL | 60 | 15 | 14 | 29 | 18 |
| 2013–14 | Rouyn-Noranda Huskies | QMJHL | 68 | 20 | 26 | 46 | 36 |
| 2014–15 | Rouyn-Noranda Huskies | QMJHL | 60 | 29 | 43 | 72 | 32 |
| 2015–16 | Rouyn-Noranda Huskies | QMJHL | 62 | 41 | 67 | 108 | 32 |
| 2015–16 | Binghamton Senators | AHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016–17 | Binghamton Senators | AHL | 68 | 10 | 12 | 22 | 24 |
| 2017–18 | Belleville Senators | AHL | 65 | 17 | 15 | 32 | 20 |
| 2018–19 | Belleville Senators | AHL | 24 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 10 |
| 2018–19 | Ottawa Senators | NHL | 17 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2018–19 | San Jose Barracuda | AHL | 33 | 12 | 14 | 26 | 12 |
| 2019–20 | San Jose Barracuda | AHL | 46 | 7 | 14 | 21 | 10 |
| 2019–20 | Manitoba Moose | AHL | 9 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 2 |
| 2020–21 | Manitoba Moose | AHL | 27 | 9 | 11 | 20 | 10 |
| 2021–22 | Manitoba Moose | AHL | 55 | 12 | 26 | 38 | 18 |
| 2022–23 | Abbotsford Canucks | AHL | 60 | 9 | 12 | 21 | 16 |
| 2023–24 | HC Ajoie | NL | 50 | 11 | 11 | 22 | 14 |
Awards and honours
- QMJHL First All-Star Team (2016)
- Jean Béliveau Trophy (QMJHL Top Scorer) (2016)