Oilers forward Corey Perry's future all but confirmed
Photo credit: Perry Nelson - Imagn Images
Corey Perry is about to turn 40 years old in a few weeks and will be a free agent this offseason, but he will surely be re-signing in the NHL for another year after this playoffs.
The Oilers have switched up their lines frequently through the playoffs, but Corey Perry has been finding himself alongside McDavid and Draisaitl - because he's still so effective.
Corey Perry still has enough in the tank for another NHL season
Perry has put together an incredible playoffs so far, with 2 goals and 3 points in 4 games. In Game 4, the veteran played 20:04 of ice time, a sign of how much the coach trusts him.
Early in the game Perry made a skilled deflection in front to score, but his most impactful play was his net front presence on Draisaitl's game winner. Perry was causing mayhem in front of the net, tying up Doughty, and distracting Kuemper until they scored.
After the game, Leon Draisaitl praised Perry for his exceptional hockey IQ and ability to adapt his game to be an effective player at his age. Perry's clearly slowed down, but Draisaitl joked that he could play until 50 years old.
I honestly feel like he could play until he's 50, just because of his brain. We'll see if the boots keep up there, but, he's just a gamer.
Corey Perry's ability to adapt his game making him still effective at 39 years old
It's not like he'll actually play until he's 50, but Corey Perry has proved that he should earn another NHL contract next season.
The Oilers do want to get younger, but they should be strongly pursuing Perry on another 1 year deal. Leon Draisaitl's endorsement is a meaningful one within the organization too.
The only thing that could sway his decision is retiring after a Stanley Cup win, a perfect bookend to any NHL career. Otherwise, Perry should be a lock to return to the Oilers next season.
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 28 | 1048 ANSWERS Oilers forward Corey Perry's future all but confirmed Do you think Perry will return to the Edmonton Oilers next year? | ||
| Yes | 823 | 78.5 % |
| No | 66 | 6.3 % |
| He'll retire when the Oilers win the Cup | 159 | 15.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
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