The Edmonton Oilers are reportedly close to reaching an agreement with veteran forward Corey Perry, according to several publications, or different versions of the same report.
David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period initially described the negotiations as “traction,” then a “deal” a short while later.
NHL Network joined the party with a banner that read “SIGNED,” but the hockey team has not yet provided an official statement.
or, considering the current pattern of Oilers news surfacing on a Sunday morning and swiftly being verified, it might happen in as little as five minutes.
The terms of the deal have not been disclosed, but the Oilers could only benefit if it came close to the NHL minimum—a long cry from the $4 million he took on in a one-year contract with the Chicago Blackhawks last summer. It’s important to note that, as Chris Johnston of TSN suggests here, Perry is over 35 and so qualified to sign a contract with bonus clauses that would be paid later rather than against this year’s cap:
Why would Corey Perry be desired by the Oilers? The team is currently enjoying a 13-game winning run. Every member of the roster contributes in some way, and there is a strong sense of teamwork among the players. On the other hand, Perry’s contract was terminated by the Blackhawks due to his alleged disruptive behavior during a team off-ice event. To his credit, he took full responsibility for the issue and withdrew from the game for many weeks in order to rehab “my struggles with alcohol.”
During those weeks, there has been a lot of conjecture about where he will go next, and Edmonton has come up a lot.
On the one hand, it makes perfect sense. There are presently no active players on the team (although there is one assistant coach) with previous championship experience.
Perry has won many more championships than just one Stanley Cup. He is only the second person in hockey history to win the Memorial Cup, World Junior, Stanley Cup, Olympic gold, World Championship gold, and World Cup of Hockey gold. He is one of just thirty members of the prestigious Triple Gold Club. The other is Scott Niedermayer, a former colleague of Perry’s with the Anaheim Ducks.
To put it briefly, Perry was a top-tier player for many years and, it seems, is still highly sought after by elite hockey teams. Even though he isn’t the same Hart Trophy/Rocket Richard Trophy winner he was more than ten years ago, he is still a gruff player whose sardonic demeanor and overall edginess are almost legendary. Once a player who consistently scored 100 points per year, he
He adds the bulk to balance the nasty at 6’3 and 208 pounds. Since Nick Bjugstad and Klim Kostin both left Edmonton’s bottom six together last summer, both components have been in short supply.
The one thing he lacks is speed. Perry was renowned more for his drive than his speed even at his best. He has consistently produced his best work in and around the blue paint since his junior days with the London Knights. He also possesses an amazing ability to control the puck in confined spaces.
In order to create room for him on the roster—and more importantly, in the starting lineup—who may the Oilers bench?
The former may be Philip Kemp, a seventh defenseman who has been observing from the press box while Edmonton’s starting six have been a regular presence on the ice in the near term. However, a 13/7/2 split is more likely when the team returns on the road following their 9-day break at the end of the month, which means a senior forward like Adam Erne, Connor Brown, or Sam Gagner can end up on the waiver wire. Erne is the most likely wager, given that an injury won’t be required to settle the issue. (Note: as of Sunday at noon MDT, nobody had been waived.) Erne is already self-aware.
In order to create room for him on the roster—and more importantly, in the starting lineup—who may the Oilers bench?
The former may be Philip Kemp, a seventh defenseman who has been observing from the press box while Edmonton’s starting six have been a regular presence on the ice in the near term. However, a 13/7/2 split is more likely when the team returns on the road following their 9-day break at the end of the month, which means a senior forward like Adam Erne, Connor Brown, or Sam Gagner can end up on the waiver wire. Erne is the most likely wager, given that an injury won’t be required to settle the issue. (Note: as of Sunday at noon MDT, nobody had been waived.) Erne is already self-aware.
