Freshly signed Ottawa Senators forward David Perron believes he owes Artem Zub a bottle of wine, or perhaps a dinner.
Whichever it will be, it’s an olive branch that Perron hopes to extend to his new teammate before training camp, with whom he had a less-than-friendly interaction in December of last season, when Perron was with the Detroit Red Wings.
“It’s not the most comfortable situation,” the 36-year-old admitted about having to face Zub, now as teammates. Perron was suspended six games last season for cross-checking Zub in the head during a scrum between the Red Wings and Senators, and was ejected from the game for intent to injure.
But, he’s ready to clear the air and believes it won’t be a hurdle to do so.
“Us hockey guys have some kind of a crazy way that we can put things behind us rather quickly, and I’m sure we’re going to end up connecting pretty well,” Perron said. “I’m going to enjoy battling on the same side as him.
“Maybe put a team dinner on the board, something like that, or maybe for him, no matter what, buy him a nice bottle of wine, if that’s what he’s into,” Perron said, laughing. “Just kind of try to be a good teammate and show that the incident wasn’t really who I am in general, and that was just one play.”
The Senators signed the Sherbrooke, Quebec, native to a two-year, $8-million contract on July 1. Perron was selected 26th overall in the 2007 NHL Draft by the St. Louis Blues and played with Keith Tkachuk, father of Senators captain Brady Tkachuk, for three seasons.
“Brady would have been eight, nine and 10 years old when I played the three years with Big Walt (Keith),” Perron said. “That’s exactly where my son is now, he’s going to turn nine in a couple of weeks here.
“It’s going to be hilarious. Kind of a full-circle thing.”