Hockey fans in Edmonton hated Corey Perry enough to know they’d love him Or, after 20 years of agitating the situation to the breaking point in his ongoing conflicts with the Oilers, they adored the impression they had of him.
Perry’s unique combination of aggression, cunning, and net front determination would have made him an ideal fit for anyone in his heyday. With more than 1,400 games played and 38 years of experience, one had to question how much more he could provide.
especially after the Chicago Blackhawks released him and he did nothing for two months.
Although the entire effect of dressing a former public nemesis in Oilers colors won’t be known until the playoffs are complete, Perry has lived up to expectations in the limited number of seven games that he has played. A touch slower and older, but still just the adversarial crease hound our team so needs.
After signing him as a free agent prior to the bye week the Oilers started him out on the third line to see what he could do and within two games he was riding second line shotgun with Leon Draisaitl and Evander Kane. Now he’s in the premium right wing spot on a nuclear line with Draisaitl and Connor McDavid.
