Waiting for the UFA Corey Perry just finished his most recent season in the NHL. Following a Tampa Bay Lightning loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, Perry is considering retirement, and questions about whether he will continue to play or have an opportunity again will be asked in the over the next few months. A former Hart Trophy winner in 2011, he’s certainly on the bottom nine of his career, last season producing 25 points in 81 games for Tampa.
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As for the forward’s desire to continue his career on the ice, Perry said, “I still have more in me. I still want to play. We’ll see where it goes over the next few weeks and then we’ll go from there. It remains to be seen whether he will get this opportunity in Tampa. The Lightning will potentially look at reshaping their roster, with this season being the first of what could be a downturn in their ability to consistently contend for the Stanley Cup. The Lightning were, at one point, a dynasty. But, as players get older and their win window closes, Perry’s usefulness on a roster like that might not be as high.
Perry has signed friendly deals with suitors over the past few seasons. He became the first player in NHL history to lose three consecutive Stanley Cup Finals while playing for three different teams. He missed those attempts to win the Cup, but one has to assume he would be willing to sign a league minimum deal with a contender if given the opportunity. A veteran who knows how to show up in big games, the question for these contenders will be whether his desire to play a key deep role is greater than his ability to do so. He had five points in six games for the Lightning in the first round, so there’s evidence he can still be effective if he plays the right role.
Likewise, he brings a little edge, a veteran grittiness, and he’s not afraid to mix things up and get dirty. These are features that some teams might find useful.
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