Edmonton Oilers News

Home

Quizzes

Newsletter

Corey Perry, Edmonton Oilers (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

Oilers’ Corey Perry Having Underrated Season

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers
By Jackson Scherger | Last updated Mar 17, 2025 9:10 AM ET

The Edmonton Oilers’ offence this season has been a bit of an oddity compared to last season’s unit. Many players on the roster that had a stand-out 2023-24 campaign are slated for regression this season; that even includes superstar Connor McDavid (if you can call it regression). Despite some players’ scoring troubles, the team remains among the top squads in the NHL standings. Obviously, there are a few players on the uptick to thank for the team staying in contention, however, there is one player who has come out of nowhere to provide for the Oilers.

At 39 years old, no one would have expected Corey Perry to put up the numbers he has so far this season. He turns 40 in May and is on his sixth NHL team of his career, but you wouldn’t guess it by the way he plays some nights. He has seen himself a part of a few different line combinations and yet manages to have some kind of impact almost every night. His years of experience in the NHL are proving to be more and more of an asset each passing day for Edmonton.

How Perry Got Here

Perry joined the Oilers midway through last season after having his contract terminated by the Chicago Blackhawks. He recorded 13 points in the final 38 games of the regular season with Edmonton, as well as adding three points in 19 playoff games.

He made a solid impact during the first part of his time with the team, and they rewarded him for it. Perry signed a one-year, $1.15 million deal over the summer to remain in the orange and blue and hopefully make another deep playoff run. A guy who knows all too well about coming up short on the big stage is treating this season like it’s his most important one yet.

This Season’s Impact

Perry is certainly doing his part to propel the Oilers’ offence forward. The veteran has tallied 15 goals and 23 points so far this season, putting him on a collision course to have his best season since the 2021-22 campaign. He has found success with a multitude of different players alongside him and also plays a strong defensive role. Perry sits in the top-five on the team in plus/minus, as well as the top-15 in shot blocks and hits. You can also find him picking fights all over the ice like he’s in his prime. He is a very well-rounded and powerful player, no matter where coaches place him.

Corey Perry opens the scoring with less than a minute left to go in the first period pic.twitter.com/6H0YJmeNqF
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 16, 2025

In addition to his impressive stats, Perry has been given increased duties across the board. Aside from playing up on Leon Draisaitl’s line recently, he has seen increased power play time as a sort of ‘sixth man’ whenever one of the original five power play guys are unavailable. He also tends to play as the sixth player at the end of games when the Oilers are trailing and pull their goalie for an extra attacker. The coaching staff seems to be utilizing him in every way possible, and he is taking full advantage.

The Future

This resurgence raises an important question going forward. Perry will become a free agent yet again this summer, and it leaves everyone to wonder what is next. A Hart Trophy winner and Stanley Cup champion, he has accomplished a lot in his career and was surely one of the top players of his time. Despite all the success, there might still be more in the tank. The numbers don’t lie for Perry who is having a stellar year for someone his age and going into free agency, he might be someone teams take a look at. A grizzled veteran with an affordable price tag and some scoring touch left in him is a desirable thing to have on a contending team. It is also valuable to have on a developing team with young players looking for guidance. Regardless, he has value.

No matter what decision is made by Perry, he has had an amazing career. He has proven to be a great asset to this Edmonton team down the stretch and potentially beyond this season. He is exactly the kind of veteran presence a playoff contender needs on their team.