Oilers connected to signing former Maple Leafs veteran as Corey Perry replacement

Corey Perry can easily make that list also, as Oilers' fans know, having played a key part in Edmonton's 2024-25 playoff success, where he scored 10 goals and 14 points, not to mention his style of game without the puck.

Yet, Corey Perry is no longer with the Oilers, though free agent power forward Max Pacioretty is still available, and would make key addition to the Oilers lineup in 2025-26.

The Edmonton Oilers will be without a number of power forwards and aggressive-style players going into the 2025-26 season: Evander Kane, Dylan Holloway, Warren Foegle, Connor Brown, Victor Arvidsson, and of course Corey Perry, all will not be dressing for the Oilers.

There is a glaring need for a power forward like Max Pacioretty, who has yet to win a cup and whose aggressive and physical game can just be what the Oilers need to get past the last stretch in the NHL Finals.

In the 2024-25 playoffs with the Maple Leafs, Max scored 5 goals and 8 points in 11 games played, and was a constant threat against the Florida Panthers whenever he was on the ice, in both his skill and physical play.

Of the remaining free agents, Max Pacioretty is ranked 3rd, and is surprising that he's still available. His cap hit with the Leafs last season was just over $873K, and will likely be in that vicinity next season, should he be signed.

In fact, in the last two playoffs, the former 2007, 22nd overall draft pick, Pacioretty was ranked 2nd of all NHL power forwards in points/60 even strength (1.77) and hits/60 even strength (21.9). To put Max's stats into perspective, Oilers' Vasily Podkolzi was ranked 1st, while Zack Hyman was 6th and Evander Kane 15th. Corey Perry was ranked the 152nd best power forward in the NHL.

Using the same stats as above for the 2024-25 regular season, even at the age of 37, Max Pacioretty was ranked the 10th best power forward. At his cap hit, the Oilers would do well to sign him.

With limited ice-time and used in a specific role, Max can be very effective. He can also move up and down the lineup, as was the case with the Leafs last season, where he played top-line minutes as either a substitute for injury, or to shake-up the line combinations when the coach needed a physical presence to boost team production.

Max Pacioretty would also bring with him a ton of regular season and playoff experience that would help the Oilers on the ice, as well as the locker-room. With the team getting younger, experience in that much more important than ever for Edmonton