This offseason, the Edmonton Oilers made a questionable resolution, re-signing Corey Perry to a 1-year cope with a $1.15 million cap hit. Perry first inked a 1-year, $775K cope with the Oilers on Jan. 22, after his contract was terminated by the Chicago Blackhawks in late November.
Associated: Edmonton Oilers Re-Signal Corey Perry to 1-Yr Deal
Bringing in a veteran on a league-minimum contract was a good suggestion by the Oilers. Perry has been strong since becoming a member of the Oilers, registering 8 targets and 13 factors in 38 regular-season video games and averaging 12:quarter-hour an evening within the backside six. It was a low-risk transfer because of his expertise and minimal wage. Nonetheless, that was final yr. Now, he appears to be working out of gasoline and can probably see the press field many instances this season. He isn’t well worth the extension he was given, and the Oilers might remorse the choice to deliver him again. Listed here are 5 explanation why re-signing Perry was a mistake.
1. Corey Perry Curse
What do the 2020 Dallas Stars, 2021 Montreal Canadiens, 2022 Tampa Bay Lightning, and 2024 Edmonton Oilers all have in frequent? All of them misplaced within the Stanley Cup Ultimate with Perry on their roster. In 2020 and 2021, his crew misplaced to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Perry then mentioned, “If you happen to can’t beat them, be a part of them,” and inked a 2-year deal with the Lightning. He then misplaced a 3rd straight Stanley Cup Ultimate collection, this time to the Colorado Avalanche.
The previous first-round choose of the Anaheim Geese has one Stanley Cup below his belt, received in 2007 with the Geese. However, he has not received it once more regardless of having a number of alternatives lately. The “Corey Perry Curse” has been a working joke on social media. Will the Oilers break the curse? If not, they’re positive to win the Stanley Cup in 2026 when Perry is now not an Oiler. Who is aware of, possibly he can be on the crew that loses to Edmonton.
2. Perry’s Age
Perry doesn’t make the crew any youthful. At 39 years previous, he’s nicely previous his prime and doesn’t have the legs he used to, which was evident within the Oilers’ current playoff run when he scored one purpose and three factors in 19 playoff video games whereas being a wholesome scratch for six video games. He was not solely ineffective, however he additionally wasn’t the pest we’re used to seeing. His solely purpose got here in Sport 5 of the Stanley Cup Ultimate when Connor McDavid went coast-to-coast, dangled by way of the whole Florida Panthers crew, and located Perry on the backdoor for a straightforward tap-in – he was the beneficiary of McDavid magic.
Are the Oilers too previous? They’re the oldest crew within the NHL and the one crew with a median age over 30. Perry is slowing down, and it wouldn’t harm for administration to inject some much-needed youth into their lineup. Dropping Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway to supply sheets was an enormous blow and put a damper on an total nice offseason. The Oilers additionally misplaced speedsters Ryan McLeod and Warren Foegele. The velocity of their backside six is regarding, and having Perry doesn’t assist.
3. Perry’s Cash Ought to Have Been Allotted Elsewhere
Realizing what we all know now, extending Perry was a head-scratcher. On Aug. 13, the St. Louis Blues tendered supply sheets to restricted free brokers (RFAs) Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway, which the Oilers didn’t match, that means that each gamers at the moment are in St. Louis. Edmonton obtained a second and third-round choose as compensation.
Associated: Making Sense of Oilers’ Resolution to Carry Again Corey Perry for $1.4 Million
The Oilers may have dealt with this higher. Though Perry’s $1.15 million cap hit doesn’t appear to be loads, administration ought to have used that cash to re-sign their pending RFAs, particularly Holloway. The truth that signing Perry was prioritized over Holloway is mind-boggling.
Holloway might have been just a little costlier, however he’s additionally 17 years youthful and would have had a bigger function on the crew this season. The Oilers additionally traded Cody Ceci and his $3.25 million cap hit to economize (which makes not matching Holloway’s supply sheet much more shocking). Administration dropped the ball on their RFAs, who ought to have been signed mid-season anyway.
4. Perry Takes a Roster Spot From a Younger Participant
The Oilers desperately want youth of their backside six, particularly after Holloway’s departure. Their fourth line will now encompass Vasily Podkolzin, Derek Ryan, and Corey Perry, in accordance with Day by day Faceoff. Whereas Podkolzin is barely 23, Ryan is 37, and Perry is pushing 40. That could be a sluggish line. The crew is anticipating newcomer, Podkolzin to drive that line, which is a giant ask for somebody who didn’t earn constant enjoying time in three seasons with the Vancouver Canucks.
The Oilers have a number of younger gamers who can be pushing for roster spots in coaching camp. Raphael Lavoie, Matthew Savoie, Noah Philp, and Roby Jarventie are gamers to regulate, they usually value lower than Perry. With the Oilers up towards the wage cap, the crew needs to be searching for inside options. As an alternative of re-signing the veteran right-winger, administration ought to belief one among these prospects to fill that function.
5. Perry’s Management Is Not Wanted
5 years in the past, Perry’s management would have been extraordinarily worthwhile to an Oilers crew seeking to keep constant playoff berths. Nonetheless, the crew has made the postseason yearly because the COVID-19 pandemic, with a number of deep runs. They’ve had two Western Convention Ultimate appearances, and one Stanley Cup Ultimate look and have misplaced to the eventual Stanley Cup champions three years in a row.
They’ve leaders within the room. Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Darnell Nurse, and Zach Hyman have been with the group by way of all of it. They’ve additionally added Adam Henrique and Jeff Skinner who can tackle management roles. All these gamers play at a particularly excessive degree and are both in Edmonton’s prime six or of their top-four defence.
Perry is a fringe participant and can barely crack the fourth line. Whereas he might have expertise, can he constantly assist the crew on the ice? I’m not satisfied he can at this stage in his profession.
