Providence Bruins Sign Jacob Perreault

The Boston Bruins appear confident in offering former first-round picks a fresh start and a chance to thrive in their system. It’s a strategy that occasionally pays off—just look at Pavel Zacha. Sometimes it doesn’t, as the cases of Max Jones and Riley Tufte suggest.

Today, they added another name to the list: Jacob Perreault, the Anaheim Ducks’ second of two first-round pick from 2020 (which, coincidently was Boston’s original pick). But there’s a notable distinction—while Zacha (via trade), Jones, and Tufte all arrived under NHL contracts, Perreault joins the fold on a one-year AHL deal and will join the Providence Bruins.

There is no risk with this signing, but there is potential for reward.

Jacob Perreault, once a standout with the Sarnia Sting, was widely regarded as a skilled first-round talent. In my final 2020 OHL rankings, he landed sixth among all OHL prospects, while NHL Central Scouting placed him 17th among North American skaters. For a deeper dive, you can check out my full 2020 scouting report on Perreault here.

So where did it go wrong?

After six seasons in the AHL, you’d think we’d have a clear picture of who Jacob Perreault is. But the numbers tell a different story—he’s appeared in just 218 games over that span, averaging only 36 games per season. Considering the AHL schedule runs at least 68 games annually, and his busiest season topped out at 57, it’s clear he’s never had a full runway to truly establish himself.

Injuries are the biggest concern.

Perreault has dealt with a string of significant setbacks over the years—shoulder separation, fractured collarbone, heel surgery, and the ever-ambiguous upper body injury. These are tough blows for any seasoned pro to bounce back from, let alone a young prospect in need of consistent development time. The fact that these injuries came in succession only made the challenge steeper.

And this is why it is an AHL deal and not an NHL deal. It’s an opportunity for Perreault to start from the beginning, hopefully injury free and see if he can get his game back. If not, there is no risk to the organization.