David Perron delivers on expectations for Golden Knights

SAN JOSE, Calif. — So far, this expansion thing has worked out pretty well for David Perron and the Golden Knights.

The veteran forward has been a consistent performer and has provided scoring and toughness playing with fellow veteran James Neal and center Erik Haula. Their line has produced 56 of the team’s 181 goals this season.

“It’s been an awesome start to the season,” Perron said. “Obviously there’s 30-something games left, and we just want to keep getting better every day.

“It’s been awesome playing with these guys. I don’t remember finding chemistry with players like I did in a while. It’s always good when you have that, and you don’t want to lose it.”

Perron, 29, plays his 700th NHL game Thursday as the Knights end a six-game road trip against the second-place San Jose Sharks, who they lead by 10 points in the Pacific Division. Perron is second on the team in scoring with 47 points, including a team-high 34 assists.

“He plays a competitive game and that’s what you like to see from your players,” Knights coach Gerard Gallant said. “He definitely gets under people’s skin because he goes hard to the net and that’s what we like about David. He’s a veteran who’s been around the game a long time and he’s seems to be in a good mood all the time. He’s well-liked by his teammates and he’s a character guy.”

General manager George McPhee, who selected Perron from the St. Louis Blues in the expansion draft, said Perron has matched expectations.

“He’s very strong on the puck,” McPhee said. “He’s a smart player. He can make a play. We had a lot of speed guys and we felt like we needed a few guys who could hold people off and create separation in the corners going ahead with the puck like he does.”

Perron didn’t have any expectations when the Knights took him.

“Not much at all,” he said. “You don’t know. At the start, I was a little bit disappointed. I was on a team I was satisfied with in St. Louis and then you get to an expansion team and you don’t know what it’s going to be like.

“Then you get to Vegas and you start seeing the facilities they’re building, everyone is excited about the hockey team. You see it’s being built the right way from the start. Ever since that day it’s been better and better.”

Perron’s best season came in 2013-14 with Edmonton, when he scored 28 goals and had 29 assists. His career high for assists is 35 with St. Louis in 2008-09.

Perron is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. According to Capfriendly.com, he’s making $3.75 million this season. At 29, he’s probably got one big contract left. Neither Perron nor McPhee would talk about contracts. But Perron knows he’s playing well. He likes Las Vegas and he likes the Knights organization and his teammates. He enjoys playing for Gallant.

So will he stay?

“It’s been a real pleasure and we want to keep it going,” Perron said. “It feels good for sure. I’m just looking at the next game and trying to get better. I think that’s a mentality that has been working for me and the team.”

Contact Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow @stevecarprj on Twitter.