Brendan Perlini will be a healthy scratch for the first time in his Blackhawks career when the team hosts the Canadiens on Sunday.
Perlini has no points, three shots, a minus-6 and a 38.21-percent Corsi in six games with Chicago since being acquired with center Dylan Strome for forward Nick Schmaltz on Nov. 25. Perlini barely saw playing time Thursday with 5:26 minutes of ice time, including zero shifts during the third period, in the Blackhawks’ 4-2 loss in Las Vegas.
Prior to the trade, Perlini had two goals and four assists in 22 games for Arizona, who selected him No. 12 overall in 2014. He also was coming off a 30-point (17 goals, 13 assists) season in 74 outings.
The 22-year-old Perlini will no longer be exempt from waivers after his next NHL game. The only other Blackhawks exempt now are forwards Alex DeBrincat, Alexandre Fortin, Dominik Kahun and Strome and defenseman Henri Jokiharju.
Fortin will take Perlini’s spot in the lineup. Fortin skated at right wing on the third line with DeBrincat and Strome during Saturday’s morning skate.