From oil man to maple leaves? Corey Perry’s future may include another Canadian contender – Hockey writer – Edmonton Oilers

As the Edmonton Oilers compete in another Stanley Cup final, Corey Perry continued to play a supportive but influential role—he honed one in a playoff-filled career and earned hard respect. Last night, Perry recorded strong assists, two goals, two hits, four-point penalty and four-free minutes, beating the Panthers in overtime in Game 1.

Related: Oilers’ 3 games 1 OT beats Black Panthers

Perry is one of those rare NHL veterans who grow on your team. Once Perry becomes a top goal scorer, Perry becomes a cunning, reliable presence that can be inserted anywhere in the lineup. Even at this career stage, what makes him so effective is not just experience—it is his intelligence. He knows where he is on the ice, how to destroy opponents and how to supplement elite talents like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.

Perry brings energy, perseverance and savvy; as he showed during the Edmonton playoff run, he still fuels in the tank. If he wants to play next season, he will undoubtedly find a home – he is exactly the kind of home that player competitors like to add.

Elliotte Friedman aggravates Perry’s future

In the latest episode Hockey performanceSportsNet Insider Elliotte Friedman discusses Perry’s status with hosts Matt Marchese and Mike Futa and why at 39, he could still be one of the more interesting names this offseason.

“You chatted with Corey Perry yesterday – he said he wanted to return for a year,” Marches said. “There is no reason he shouldn’t. His playoffs are great. No matter where he goes as a veteran, he’s very suitable.”

Related: The Oiler Must Beat the Panthers Their Ways – Not the Florida Ways

This is undeniable. Perry has played in-depth playoffs with four different teams over the past five playoffs – the Dallas Star, Montreal Canadiens, Tampa Bay Lightning and now Edmonton. Although his ice time has decreased, his performance has not been done.

“He’s still a very effective player. He obviously can’t play for another 20 minutes, but he’s smart. He joked that he’s finally taking care of himself and his career isn’t always early.”

Perry is still passionate about the game

The conversation then turned to Perry’s deep passion for the game – the trait of Friedman believes it is the core of his ongoing relevance.

“To be good at something, you have to be passionate about it and love it,” he said. “I don’t know if I believe that without real passion, you can be great in things.

Friedman points to a recent example to illustrate this. Perry’s youngest son Griffin can be seen throughout the Oilers’ playoffs and even joined his father on the ice for an interview.

“He had Griffin on Media Day,” Friedman recalls. “You don’t do that unless you want your kids to understand what they like to do. ColbyArmstrong even did a bit with Griffin, who said, ‘Mom said another year, that’s it.’”

Related: McDavid’s Moments? What are the dangers of a Stanley Cup rematch in the Oiler Crusher?

That sentence may be easy. However, this also shows Perry’s mentality. This shows that he is not ready to hang his skates. “I think you’re going to have to drag him off the ice,” Friedman said. “He wants to keep going.”

If the oilers don’t want to come back, some other NHL teams will

The group’s conversation agreed that if Edmonton didn’t bring him back – whether it was due to roster restrictions, cap considerations or changing team identity, Perry would still have a choice. “There will be a lot of team poking,” Friedman concluded. “He will be able to choose.”

This flexibility reflects not only Perry’s past works, but his value today. He may not score 30 goals anymore, but he is still punished, being scored by opponents’ skin and clutch goals, all winning a trivial hit percentage. Adding to his leadership and playoff resume, it’s clear why the team might be hitting the ball again in the Cup with him.

What’s next for Corey Perry and Maple Leafs?

If Perry is on the market, expect multiple competitors (even Maple Leaf) to call. Toronto showed willingness to bet on experienced role players, Perry fits: tough, experienced and able to tilt the playoffs. At 40, he will not be asked to take the burden to bring leadership and strengths to the bottom.

Related: Corey Perry Talks about Retirement Rumors; Should the Oiler Re-sign him?

General Manager Brad Treliving made a clever, low-risk move by introducing Max Pacioretty to PTO last season. Although injury limits Pacioretty’s regular season impact, he contributed to Perry’s thriving playoffs. If Pacioretty chooses not to return, Perry may be the ideal candidate to play the role of veterans from day one. He knows how to improve his game when it matters most. For a team desperate to push further in the playoffs, he might be exactly what Maple Leaf needs.