Just days after requesting a trade from the Blackhawks, Brendan Perlini has been dealt to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for defenseman prospect Alec Regula's rights, the team announced Monday. It's the second time in less than a year that the former 2014 first-round pick has been traded.
Perlini, who was acquired by the Blackhawks in November along with Dylan Strome, signed a one-year, $874,125 extension in September but has been a healthy scratch in nine of 10 games this season. His lone appearance came on Oct. 12 when he logged 7:49 of ice time in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Winnipeg Jets.
Perlini racked up 15 points (12 goals, three assists) in 47 games with the Blackhawks, with his best stretch coming in March when he recorded eight goals and 10 points in the first seven games. But consistency issues have followed him around throughout his career, and both the team and Perlini were ready for a fresh start.
In return, the Blackhawks are receiving the rights to a 19-year-old blue line prospect in Regula, who's serving as the co-captain of the London Knights in the Ontario Hockey League and will remain there for the 2019-20 season. He has 11 points (four goals, seven assists) through 10 games and leads the team with a +14 rating. He was teammates last season with Blackhawks top defenseman prospect Adam Boqvist.
Regula is a right-handed shot who's known to be a mobile, two-way defenseman. Five of his 11 points this season have come on the power play, so he has some offensive upside.
Regula was drafted by the Red Wings in the third round (No. 67 overall) of the 2018 NHL Draft, but has not signed an entry-level contract yet. The Blackhawks have until June 1, 2020 to do so or else they lose his negotiating rights.
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