Perlini, a speedy forward taken by the Arizona Coyotes with the No. 12 pick in the 2014 NHL Draft, is one of the few players in the NHL during the past 40 years who was born in the United Kingdom. His father, Fred Perlini, played hockey for a decade in Great Britain after six seasons in North America that included two short stints in the NHL. Brendan Perlini was born in Guildford, England, and grew up there before returning to Canada with his family in 2007.
Perlini scored 71 points (34 goals, 37 assists) in 58 games with Niagara of the Ontario Hockey League in 2013-14 and played two more seasons in junior hockey before turning pro in 2016-17. He started the season with Tucson of the American Hockey League and was called up by the Coyotes after scoring 11 goals in 16 AHL games. He made his NHL debut against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Dec. 5, 2016 and scored his first goal five nights later against the Predators.
Perlini, a speedy forward taken by the Arizona Coyotes with the No. 12 pick in the 2014 NHL Draft, is one of the few players in the NHL during the past 40 years who was born in the United Kingdom. His father, Fred Perlini, played hockey for a decade in Great Britain after six seasons in North America that included two short stints in the NHL. Brendan Perlini was born in Guildford, England, and grew up there before returning to Canada with his family in 2007.
Perlini scored 71 points (34 goals, 37 assists) in 58 games with Niagara of the Ontario Hockey League in 2013-14 and played two more seasons in junior hockey before turning pro in 2016-17. He started the season with Tucson of the American Hockey League and was called up by the Coyotes after scoring 11 goals in 16 AHL games. He made his NHL debut against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Dec. 5, 2016 and scored his first goal five nights later against the Predators.
He finished his first NHL season with 21 points (14 goals, seven assists) in 57 games, then scored 14 goals in his first 43 games of 2017-18, giving him 28 in his first 100 in the NHL. He was then traded by the Coyotes to the Chicago Blackhawks on Nov. 25, 2018 and finished the season with 21 points (14 goals, seven assists) in 68 games.
Perlini was traded to the Detroit Red Wings on Oct. 28, 2019.
NOTES & TRANSACTIONS
- Traded to Chicago by Arizona with Dylan Strome for Nick Schmaltz, November 25, 2018.
- Traded to Detroit by Chicago for Alec Regula, October 28, 2019.
