Former Capitals forward Mathieu Perreault retired from professional hockey on Thursday after 13 seasons in the NHL.
Perreault-cho cinco will not be out of a job long though. The Drummondville, Quebec-native will join the French-speaking TVA Sports network this fall and give his analysis on La Poche Bleue le midi — a daily sports news show providing “discussions, analysis, entertainment, and lots of fun”.
La Poche Bleue le midi, animée par @stephgonzz sur les ondes de @TVASports , dévoile ses collaborateurs :@Lappy14 , @thetender1987 , Simon Gagné, Michel Therrien, Louis Robitaille, Joël Bouchard, Mathieu Perreault, @begs22 , @raphdoucet et Justine St-Martin 🤩 pic.twitter.com/75nhwBMJpt
— La Poche Bleue Midi (@pochebleuemidi) September 8, 2022
Perreault was originally selected by the Capitals in the sixth round of the 2006 NHL Draft and made his NHL debut during the 2009-10 season. The diminutive forward recorded 70 points (33g, 37a) in 159 games with the team. Perreault’s best year on the Caps came during the 2011-12 season when he scored 16 goals and grabbed 30 total points in 64 games under Bruce Boudreau and Dale Hunter.
He also once scored a goal with his face.
Perreault spent the bulk of his career as a productive member of the Winnipeg Jets, playing 455 games over seven seasons with the Canadian franchise. Notably, Perreault generated one of the most terrifying bio photos in NHL history early during his time there. Later he began looking like Jesus.
Perreault, at best a second-line center, tallied 40-plus points four consecutive years from 2013 through 2017. He wrapped up his career in his native Quebec, playing 25 games for the Montreal Canadiens in 2021-22.
Outside of being a valuable depth scoring piece on the Caps, Perreault’s time in DC was highlighted by his intense and elaborate celebrations brought on by his love of college basketball. Perreault’s silliness birthed signs, RMNB shirts, and the #PerryCelly hashtag.
“I get excited when we win,” Perreault told RMNB back in 2013. “It’s just fun. I didn’t think it was gonna be that big of a deal. I mean, if people like it then it’s good.”
During his time in the Caps organization, Perreault was also a massive part of the back-to-back Calder Cup-winning 2009 and 2010 Hershey Bears teams. He played in 42 AHL playoff games during those two runs and chipped in 27 points.
In total, Perreault got into 167 games for the Bears, coming up with 135 points (38g, 97a).
Perry – congrats on an amazing career. Thank you for being a member of a special run with us. Best of luck in retirement!! pic.twitter.com/lY2oxrc65e
— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) September 8, 2022
Perreault is the father of three kids – two girls and one boy.
Best of luck in your next chapter, Matty P!
