If memory serves me right, MB was offering Perron a one-year deal. It was after he had two disappointing seasons where he got traded in back-to-back seasons to Pittsburgh and Anaheim, respectively and didn't deliver the goods.
But the Blues offered him two years. So Perron took that. I think Perron himself had said this was the reason he chose St. Louis over Montreal.
And also going by memory here, MB did have conversations with Duclair's agent but he ended up going to Columbus for league minimum. I don't know if MB negotiated or just had a conversation. I know he signed a 1-way deal with the Jackets. MaybeMB was offering a 2-way?
It's obvious those were two players that MB failed to ensure they choose Montreal. But I think that was being reported at the time each of them were available.
Duclair and MB confirmed, MB never made him an offer...
From my memory, MB snubbed Perron because of concussion concerns. While on the one hand, one can forgive him based on that reasoning. To me it was clear there would be less concussions in the NHL because of the rule changes continuously being rolled out. Anyways we know he likes grinders and under values skill. And that's ultimately what passing on Perron was about. That was at the time he went for Ott, Martinsen, and Dwight King and then snubbed Markov and Radulov only to spend 7 million in cap space on Alzner and Sclemko, and leave 8 million on the cap.
Plus Perron again became a free agent two summers ago, after a 70 point season, but a disappointing season, and all GM's in the league let St. Louis sign him for 4 million AAV - before the playoffs posters here were saying they didn't want him because he would cost 7 million. Then MB goes and let's him sign somewhere else for 4 million AAV. Coulda topped that no problem.
Then he comes out and says he wouldn't consider signing Nyquist because he's not a fan of the player - but he signed Weal and Cousins and left 6.5 million in cap space...
