BLOG: Perlini poised to re-establish game in North America

EDMONTON, AB - In the eyes and thoughts of forward Brendan Perlini, signing a one-year contract with the Edmonton Oilers was the right choice for mounting a North American comeback.
"It's been probably about a year-and-a-half going on two years that I haven't played in the NHL," he said.
Following a season abroad away from the League, where he posted 46 goals and 76 points in 239 games with the Arizona Coyotes, Chicago Blackhawks, and Detroit Red Wings after being drafted 12th overall by Arizona at the 2014 Draft, Perlini is set on re-establishing himself in North America in an Oilers uniform after adding a productive year in Switzerland to his resume in '20-21.
"I'm a more bit experienced now having played five years of pro," he added. "I kind of know the ins-and-outs a little bit better than I did when I was younger, and now it's about opportunity and coming back into the League.
"I think for me coming in now after playing last season overseas in Europe, I think I improved in a lot of different areas."
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The 25-year-old plied his trade last season with HC Ambrí-Piotta of the Swiss National League, returning nine goals and 16 points in 21 games from an elevated role with the club as an offensive driver in all aspects of the game.
"For me, that was the best fit going over there and playing a lot in every situation," said Perlini. "I really felt instead of potentially sitting around another year or something, I'd go over there and get my confidence up playing 20 minutes a night and really improve in different areas. Everything over there went as well as I could've ever asked."
Perlini is a commanding figure on the ice at 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, carrying with him an on-ice pedigree as a prolific scorer in the OHL with the Niagara IceDogs and a forward at the NHL level who's reached double-digits for goals in three of his four seasons.
"Mainly for me, it's just opportunity," Perlini said. "I think Edmonton is a good chance for me to get back in and show what I can do at this level.
"I'm bringing a lot of speed - one of my main things is skating. I'm a bigger guy who likes to play with the puck, and I think I could complement a lot of players out there with how quick I like to play the game. As far as personality goes, I'm someone who always gives 100 percent for the city and hates losing."
In addition to re-establishing himself in the League, Perini will re-acquaint himself with Head Coach Dave Tippett - the bench boss he played under during his rookie season in Arizona and a coach he's admired for his openness and ability to manage players' skill sets.
The two met earlier in the summer in Arizona as Perlini trained and searched for a new landing spot in North America. The conversation with his former coach gave the Guildford, England native a glimpse at what opportunities could lie ahead for him in Edmonton before he signed on the dotted line this past Saturday.
"I think opportunity-wise with him, he's pretty honest as far as where I would stand in the organization and things like that," Perlini said. "It's a different organization, but I know Tipp's style of coaching, so it's not going to be completely foreign to me. I at least have the experience from the past of knowing what he likes, what he doesn't like, and things like that.
"I think that honesty is all you can ever really ask for as a player."