David Perron's 2017 playoff performance was far from productive – just one point in 11 games before his benching in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals against Nashville.
The decision to leave him unprotected in the NHL expansion draft was beneficial – they saved Perron’s $3.75 million salary and squeezed Colton Parayko’s new five-year deal with an annual average value of $5.5 million just under the cap.
But while Vegas’ selection of Perron last June might have rid the Blues of a player whose postseason might have left a bad taste in the team’s mouth and allowed a long-term extension to be worked out with their emerging young defenseman, it also left a large hole at right wing.