Making Sense of Oilers’ Decision to Resign Corey Perry for $1.4 Million – Hockey Writers – Oilers Transactions

The Edmonton Oilers were incredibly busy on the opening day of free agency on Monday (July 1), signing no fewer than 13 players, including those using two deals. Some of the highlights include signing Viktor Arvidsson, Josh Brown, Connor Carrick and Jeff Skinner, as well as re-signing Connor Brown, Adam Henrique, Mattias Janmark, and Troy Stetcher.

Almost every move made by interim Oilers general manager Jeff Jackson was met with cheers from fans while praised by analysts. But there was one transaction on Monday afternoon that left some scratching their heads.

Related: Edmonton Oilers Re-sign Corey Perry to 1-Year Deal

Around 1:30 p.m. Mountain Time, amid Edmonton bringing back defenseman Noel Hoefenmayer and bringing in goaltender Collin Delia, reports emerged that the Oilers were re-signing 39-year-old forward Corey Perry to a one-year, average contract. . annual value (AAV) of $1.4 million including bonus awards.

Perry Joins Oilers to Provide Information

Perry joined the Oilers back in January, signing with Edmonton as a league minimum free agent after his contract was terminated by his former team, the Chicago Blackhawks, who said Perry had acted in violation of the NHL Standard Player Contract and team policies. . With the Oilers, Perry had eight goals and five assists in 38 regular season games, then recorded one goal and two assists in 19 playoff contests during Edmonton’s run to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final.

Edmonton brought Perry his experience, which includes nearly 200 postseason games, one Stanley Cup championship (2007 with the Anaheim Ducks) and three more trips to the Stanley Cup Final (2020 with the Dallas Stars, 2021 with the Montreal Canadiens, and 2022 with the Tampa Bay Lightning). In that respect, Perry’s Oilers tenure can be considered a success: he was part of the first Edmonton team to reach the championship round in 18 years.

But with the 2024 NHL Playoffs underway, Perry was healthy on several occasions. Despite his good postseason experience, which is the main reason Edmonton signed him, he hasn’t offered enough for Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch to use in the big games of the year.

Perry May Not Have Many Yards Left

Perry, who will turn 40 next May, is at an age where the inevitable decline in his career could appear any day now, and if it does happen it will be swift and steep. For that reason, it may have already started.

The value Perry could bring to Edmonton’s roster in 2024-25 doesn’t seem like much. And while his experience has been a huge addition to this team over the past few months, there is now a roster full of Oilers who know what it takes to reach and play in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Perry Positively Affects Team Culture

But while Perry joined the Oilers under a cloud of controversy, due to the circumstances surrounding his exit from Chicago, he was anything but a model citizen and team player during his time in Edmonton. And that’s probably why he got a new contract on Monday. As Dan Tencer, director of scouting for the Saskatoon Blades, wrote in X, “I think the Oilers vets pushed Perry. It doesn’t make a ton of sense based on what we saw on the ice.”

The team culture is clearly strong with this Oilers team, and is the key to their success. Besides, they rallied from 1-0, 2-1, and 3-2 against the Vancouver Canucks in Round 2. Besides, they didn’t come back from trailing 2-1 in the Western Conference Final. against Dallas. And without it, they can’t force a Game 7 against the Florida Panthers after falling behind 3-0 in the championship series. Maybe that team culture isn’t the same without Perry.

“Even in the games he didn’t play, he was still involved in our team,” said Knoblauch when he spoke at the Western Conference finals. “He’s a great mentor to our younger guys, even our seniors, who just get things right and have a positive outlook. It’s good to be in your group, whether you’re dressed or not…”

Perry’s contract is worth $1.4 Million

Perry’s $1.4 million contract also raised a few eyebrows Monday, especially in relation to the $1 million the Oilers will pay next season to Connor Brown, who will be a big part of the bottom six. Sports 1440 broadcaster Jason Gregor posted that he expects Perry’s contract to be closer to the league’s $775,000.

On the other hand, $1.4 million is not much. On the other hand, it could be a lot for a team as tight against salary as the Oilers.

How much should Edmonton pay a player who is likely to watch as many games in the press box as he does sitting on the bench next season? If it helps keep the chemistry that was so important in Edmonton to the top of the cup, $1.4 million could be the answer.