Get ready, ice hockey maniacs, because the Edmonton Oilers are beefing up their squad in a serious way. They’ve just roped in the battle-tested, free-agent wingman Corey Perry, because why not throw in a little more character into the mix? He’s locked down a one-year exclusive engagement with the team, and that’s going to put exactly $775,000 on the books. Oh, but that ain’t all—there’s a sweet little side deal that lets him rake in up to an extra $325,000 if he does some pretty specific, Perry-esque heroics on the ice.
And just how does our man Perry pocket that bonus cash? Buckle up: If he rocks out in ten games, ka-ching, he scores a cool $225k. If the Oilers crush the second round of the playoffs and Perry’s either front and center in half of those battles or he’s been in 50% of the mix from rounds one and two combined, boom—that’s another $50k. Then, because why not, if the Oilers steamroll through the third round of the playoffs and Perry’s been in the thick of it, guess what? Another $50k for his piggy bank.
But here’s some spicy context: Perry and his previous dance partner, the Chicago Blackhawks, called it quits on a $4 million gig last November. Why, you ask? Well, let’s just say there was a bit of a scandal with the word “inappropriate” attached to it. The dude took it up with the big boss, Commissioner Gary Bettman, but no punishment came down the pike that stopped him from suiting up for another team.
Before the breakup with the Blackhawks, the 38-year-old Perry was still swinging with nine points in 16 games. The guy’s been out of the game since November 19, but here’s a fun fact: he snagged the Hart Trophy back in 2011 for being the absolute best, a king among men in the NHL.
Now listen, Perry may not be the fastest skater—he’s closer to the speed of a leisurely Zamboni glide—but he’s still got the chops. He’s a seasoned, solid player, a real master of the craft when it comes to being a nuisance in front of the net and just generally a truculent dude in the bottom six.
This Stanley Cup champ (Yeah, he hoisted that beauty back in 2007 with the Anaheim Ducks) is no spring chicken. But he’s still got more gas in the tank and Playoff DNA to spare, considering he’s been hanging around Stanley Cup finals for the past three years in a row—although let’s be honest, the trophy’s been playing hard to get.
Perry’s on a mission to sprinkle some veteran magic on the Oilers’ bottom six and remind everyone why getting into your opponents’ heads can be an art form. As the Oilers glaze their current win streak (a jaw-dropping Canadian record of 13 straight victories), they’re hopping back onto the battlefield Tuesday, where they’ll square off against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
So, keep your eyes peeled because Edmonton’s not just playing games here—they’re looking to snag the big prize, with Perry now part of their arsenal.
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