Jayden Perron can be defined as an “undersized” player by NHL standards. 

But at 5-foot-9, 165 pounds, he’s also one of the most elusive, highly intelligent playmakers to come out of the United States Hockey League.

Signed to a tender agreement by the Chicago Steel before the 2021-2022 season, Perron pieced together a body of work over the last two seasons that should make him a hot commodity in the 2023 NHL Draft.

The University of North Dakota commit enjoyed a promising rookie season, one that saw him finish with 45 points (17 goals, 28 assists), good for fifth-most on the Steel roster.

Returning for his second year, Perron was paired with USHL rookie sensation, and potential No. 1 overall pick in 2024, Macklin Celebrini, and the duo became must-watch television.

“He’s an incredibly creative playmaker,” Steel head coach and general manager Mike Garman said of Perron. “He sees the game and creates plays that aren’t even there just with his skillset, and he’s someone who can also play with a ton of pace.”

Jayden Perron Player Profile

Date of Birth: January 11, 2005
Age: 18
Height: 5-foot-9
Weight: 165 pounds
Shot: R
Ranking: No. 43 by NHL Central Scouting (NA Skaters)
Production: 61 games, 24 goals, 48 assists, 72 points
College: University of North Dakota 

A Master Setup Man

During his time at Fox Valley Ice Arena, Perron made the passes nobody else could make. The plays he made with the puck on his stick often left teammates speechless in practice.

Always scanning the ice, the young forward sees the ice very well and utilizes his excellent ability to escape to buy himself more time until a teammate is open.

Perron can fit the narrowest of seam passes through any window and really shined on the power play during his time with the Steel.

He typically handled the drop passes to carry the puck through the neutral zone and into the offensive zone on the man advantage. With a teammate skating stride for stride toward the net, Perron time and again found his man on the backdoor tap-in.

He consistently generated scoring chances and finished with the third-most power-play assists (21) and second-most assists overall (48) during the 2022-2023 season.

Anotha one ☝🏻#FeelSteel https://t.co/PrMxPEZt1O pic.twitter.com/VGiUhU3Zpv

— Chicago Steel (@ChicagoSteel) April 2, 2023

Twice last season, Perron had points streaks extending at least eight games, including a stretch to open the season that saw him pot 15 points (four goals, 11 assists) over the first nine games.

“He's just a guy who’s always going to create chances sooner or later, those points streaks are great and the total points he had are great, too,” Garman said. “And what’s amazing is how many games there was a puck off a post or someone just misses on the back door. I feel like he was consistently generating for us.”

In his second year, Perron significantly improved his ability to sustain possession of the puck by not forcing a particular play or trying to do everything on his own. 

Making the simple passes to teammates to set up the next play and create a more advantageous scoring chance was all part of the “professional approach” the Steel coaching staff described of Perron’s play in 2022-2023.

Added Scoring And Improved Play Away From The Puck

While he was still one of the premier setup men in the USHL, Perron’s refined approach in his second year led to the young forward scoring more goals.

He developed the ability to score more often off the pass and connected on one-timers.

During his rookie campaign, Perron recorded just one multi-goal game. 

This past year, he had six games tallying at least two goals and two occurrences recording a hat trick, including in the second round of the playoffs against Dubuque.

The North Dakota commit consistently found himself in scoring chances because of his hard work away from the puck.

Perron added the ability to get pucks back in his second season, and his commitment to stick detail created more opportunities in the offensive zone.

Holy snipe#FeelSteel https://t.co/1WFfvsAM9i pic.twitter.com/5Cpy4E8A3T

— Chicago Steel (@ChicagoSteel) May 6, 2023

Despite the smaller stature, he added a strong physical presence to his game, notably hip-checking his opponent in open ice to create a turnover or delivering a big hit into the boards to jar the puck loose.

Because of his size, or lack thereof, Perron could fall in the 2023 NHL Draft, but if you ask Garman, whoever selects him will have a world-class person with a terrific skill set.

“He’s someone who makes your organization better because (his teammates) like him and because of his work ethic and how he approaches his craft,” the Steel bench boss said. “He enhances your organization just with how hard he works, how committed he is to the game, and he’s such a great person and a great teammate and genuinely cares about the guys in the room and the team’s success.”