Frank Seravalli discusses Corey Perry’s future with the Edmonton Oilers

Back on January 22nd, 2024, Corey Perry signed a deal with the Edmonton Oilers for the remainder of the 2023-24 season. The deal was struck after the Chicago Blackhawks terminated his contract. Perry wasn’t the most liked by Oilers fans before his arrival, after spending the majority of his career with division rivals the Anaheim Ducks. However, only two months later, fans are asking if re-signing the 38-year-old former Hart Trophy winner is a possibility.

Perry has played 26 games for the Oilers scoring six goals and nine points, whilst also racking up 30 penalty minutes. Five of those minutes came in a fight with Logan Stanley, who had a significant size advantage over Perry, in last night’s 4-3 overtime win over the Winnipeg Jets. As Louie DeBrusk said on the broadcast, it doesn’t matter if he knows he’s going to lose the fight he’ll take it anyway, which has helped him become a fan favourite in such a short period.

Cap space isn’t limited next season but spending smartly needs to be a priority for the Oilers management staff. With a possible $14,233,333 available, according to Cap Friendly, giving Perry a new deal isn’t going to break the bank. The veteran winger has a career earnings of $92,523,378, so the likelihood of him asking for a significant raise from his current $775k is low.

“I think that’s going to be up to Corey Perry,” said Frank Seravalli on the Oilers forward’s future. “From knowing Corey Perry a bit, part of his process is that he is going to keep playing his game until somebody takes it away from him kicking and screaming. One of things he has been craving has been some stability. He likes to get set up in a place and understand what the expectations are, what the coaching staff is like and what the environment/teammates are like. More often then not, he’s wanted to stay at his previous teams.”