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Oilers' Corey Perry Reveals His Secret to Playing Great Playoff Hockey at 40 Years Old

Originally posted on Hockey Latest | By Daniel Lucente | Last updated May 25, 2025 2:06 PM ET

Father time doesn't appear to apply to Oilers' Corey Perry, as he is excelling in the playoffs year after year, and he revealed his secret as to just why that is.

Corey Perry's CV is so impressive, he likely doesn't even realize that each new benchmark merely reaffirms his status as a Hall of Famer.

During the 2025 playoffs, Perry has scored five goals, the second-most on the Edmonton Oilers, indicative of the team's depth among the final four Stanley Cup contenders.

Perry needs one more goal to tie the great Jean Beliveau

But there is more history to be created. His next one will tie the great Jean Béliveau for most goals scored by a player in their age-39 year, QuantHockey states.

Playoffs create greatness, a sense of nostalgia, and hope. To Perry, the playoffs are about winning another championship on his way out and he shared his secret about why he excels so well.

'I think it's just a love for the game. That's why I want to play the game for as long as I can,' Perry said. 'Once this game passes you by, it's over, it's done. There's no coming back and I'll move onto something else. That's why what I want to do is play hockey, have fun and just be part of something.'

A member of the elite Triple Gold Club already, having a Stanley Cup, Olympic gold, and a World Championship, playoffs this season would be a fitting conclusion to his book.

Although technically still in his age-39 year, Perry turned 40 on May 16, the second-oldest surviving playoff player, behind Brent Burns.

Since debuting on Oct. 5, 2005, and scoring his first goal five days later in Edmonton, Perry has scored 448 goals, has over 900 points, and has won a Hart Trophy.

His career is an era, one that goes back before superstars Connor Bedard, Macklin Celebrini, and Will Smith.

The reality that Perry's career is now older than much of the NHL roster serves to highlight an impressive fact: he's still excelling in a league that is younger in trend, demonstrating that top ability, experience, and motivation never grow old.

This article first appeared on Hockey Latest and was syndicated with permission.

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