Brendan Perlini placed on waivers by the Edmonton Oilers
In order to make room for Devin Shore who is set to return off of the injured reserve, the Edmonton Oilers have chosen to place forward Brendan Perlini on waivers.
Perlini, 25, signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Oilers this August after spending the 2020-21 season in the Swiss National League. Thanks in part to a great camp, one in which he scored a team leading five preseason goals in five games, he was able to stick with the big club for the start of the 2021-22 campaign.
Unfortunately, Perlini’s hot stick from exhibition play failed to continue in the regular season. In 13 games, he was unable to find the scoresheet. It was evident that head coach Dave Tippett didn’t have a ton of confidence in him as a player, as he was healthy scratched on a number of occasions and averaged less than eight minutes in ice time per game when he was inserted in the lineup. Given the general lack of NHL interest in him the past two seasons, it seems likely he clears waivers and is assigned to the Bakersfield Condors of the American Hockey League, but that remains to be seen.
It is another disappointing turn for Perlini, who has had plenty of them over his career. The skill level is clearly there, evidenced by the fact he was selected in the first-round (12 overall) in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, but he has struggled to put it together on a consistent basis. It appeared he was well on his way when in his second NHL season with the Arizona Coyotes he registered 17 goals and 30 points in 74 games, however he has been unable to match those totals since.
As for Shore, it will be his first time in the lineup since suffering a lower-body injury in a game on Nov. 5 versus the New York Rangers. The 27-year-old is set to play left wing alongside Derek Ryan and Colton Sceviour. While he isn’t much of an offensive producer with just two points in eight games this season, he is a high energy player who can play on the penalty kill and is solid in faceoffs. He will be a welcomed addition to this lineup.