On January 22, 2024, the Edmonton Oilers signed Corey Perry to a one‑year contract worth $775,000 plus up to $325,000 in performance bonuses (nhl.com). This marked a notable addition of veteran playoff experience and competitive grit to a team already surging toward postseason contention.
- AAV: $775,000
- Bonuses (eligible up to $325K):
- $225K after 10 games played,
- Another $50K for advancing through the 2nd playoff round with sufficient participation,
- Another $50K for advancing through the 3rd round under similar conditions (reddit.com, tsn.ca).
- Roster spot freed: Adam Erne was waived to make room (tsn.ca).
Why Edmonton Made the Move:
At the time, the Oilers were riding a franchise‑record 13‑game winning streak, solidifying their position for a deep playoff run (dailyfaceoff.com). What they lacked, some analysts argued, was experience—especially in the lower lines. Perry, a seasoned playoff performer and known instigator, seemed to fit the bill (dailyfaceoff.com).
Oilers GM Ken Holland had pursued Perry since 2019—missing out initially when he signed elsewhere. When Perry became available mid‑season, Edmonton saw an opportunity: low risk, high potential reward. As Holland said
Before Edmonton, Perry had signed a one‑year, $4 million contract with the Chicago Blackhawks. In late November 2023, that deal was terminated following an internal investigation into “unacceptable conduct” that violated team and league policy (nhl.com).
The Incident & Its Fallout
- Blackhawks’ intent to terminate: Announced November 28, 2023, citing violation of professional standards .
- Perry then spoke publicly, acknowledging personal health struggles and mask, saying he was working with mental‑health professionals .
- He cleared waivers and became a free agent. Edmonton saw a chance to reintegrate a veteran once he had sorted himself out .
Tension existed—some viewed his signing as controversial, raising ethics questions. But Edmonton prioritized his postseason pedigree and willingness to take responsibility.
- Stanley Cup champion: 2007 with the Anaheim Ducks.
- Hart Trophy & Rocket Richard winner: 2011 (50 goals, 98 points) (nhl.com).
- Olympic gold medals: Vancouver 2010, Sochi 2014 .
- Multiple Finals appearances: 2020 (Dallas), 2021 (Montreal), 2022 (Tampa Bay), 2024 (Edmonton), and even 2025—making him the first player to appear in Finals with five different teams (en.wikipedia.org).
- Career playoff record: 196 games, 124 points (53G, 71A) (nhl.com).
- In his first run with Edmonton, he played 196 playoff minutes, scored, and suited up in multiple Final games .
Perry is known for:
- Being a “pest” on ice: agitating opponents, drawing penalties.
- Bringing hockey IQ and positioning, even in later years (thescore.com, reddit.com).
- Mentoring and contributing in locker room dynamics—even when scratched (thehockeywriters.com)
- Debuted January 23, 2024, sliding into bottom-six lines.
- Posted 8 goals, 5 assists in 38 games, hitting the 900th career point milestone (thescore.com, thehockeywriters.com).
- Skated often with Andreas Athanasiou and Derek Ryan, balancing grit with skill.
Analysts noted his value:
- Dressed in 19 playoff games, scoring one goal and two assists—including a game-winner in Game 5 of the Final vs. Florida (nhl.com).
- Averaged about 10:45 TOI/game, a testament to trust from coach Kris Knoblauch (nhl.com).
- Edmonton reached Game 7 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final, losing narrowly to Florida, marking the first Finals appearance in 18 years
- Regarded as a positive force off-ice: helped younger players and bolstered team attitude (thehockeywriters.com).
- Knoblauch:
- Hockey Writers: signing deemed successful culturally, even if ice minutes bored at times (thehockeywriters.com).
On July 1, 2024, Edmonton re‑signed Perry to another one‑year deal, this time at $1.4 million AAV plus incentives (nhl.com).
- His regular season tally: 8G, 5A in 38 games (thehockeywriters.com).
- He played in 19 playoff games, adding 1 goal and 2 assists in the Final vs. Florida (nhl.com).
Despite some healthy scratches, his off-ice contributions and mentorship reportedly drove the decision . Fans and media acknowledged the signing’s value:
- Reddit: “questionable signing that has outperformed his contract” (reddit.com).
- The Hockey Writers confirmed his strong locker room impact (thehockeywriters.com).
- Edmonton returned to the Stanley Cup Final in May 2025, losing again—this time to the Panthers in six games .
- Perry scored 10 goals and 4 assists over 22 playoff games (en.wikipedia.org).
Perry’s durability and experience were central to Edmonton’s deep playoff runs, ongoing into his 40th season.
The Chicago incident cast a shadow. But Edmonton’s gamble paid off:
- Perry addressed his issues directly and focused on recovery .
- Edmonton’s track record for player rehabilitation (e.g., Evander Kane, Boyd Gordon) offered a fitting environment (reddit.com).
- Fans initially conflicted, then generally supportive:
Analytically, the move was seen as:
- Low-risk: veteran minimum contract.
- High-upside: postseason savvy, veteran presence.
- Culture-enhancing: final push glue guy .
Sometimes off-ice redemption takes tremendous grace; for Perry, Edmonton’s system offered just that
- Gritty bottom-six forward providing net-front presence, cycle support, and occasional scoring.
- Not relied on for speed—his value lies in puck IQ, physicality, and playoff-seasoned instincts (thescore.com)
- Edmonton prioritized scoring stars (McDavid, Draisaitl, Hyman, Arvidsson)—but needed forward depth resilient enough to handle playoff attrition .
- Shedding Erne made space; Perry provided versatile flexibility in bottom two lines and occasional PK work.
- Dressing room mentor, stern voice of experience, a calming presence when stakes got high .
- His journey resonated with a team narrative focused on resilience and redemption.
- Edmonton reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2024—first time in 18 years (thehockeywriters.com).
- Perry scored a Game 5 Final goal, becoming the first player to score in a Final for five different franchises .
- Edmonton returned to the Final in 2025, with Perry contributing 14 playoff points .
- He became the first player to lose four Finals with four different teams, marking a bizarre but resilient legacy (en.wikipedia.org).
- Paid $775K in 2024 and $1.4M in 2024-25; in return, Edmonton received playoff grit, locker room leadership, and key ice-time in bottom‑six roles.
- Fans/analysts widely agreed: high return for modest investment (reddit.com).
- Perry proved personal accountability after Chicago, re-earned a role in the NHL, and became a valued cultural touchstone in Edmonton.
- Demonstrated GM Holland’s (and successor Bowman’s) aggressiveness in leveraging low-risk signings to fortify playoff depth (reddit.com).
- Reinforced the club’s reputation as a team that can rehabilitate and re-energize veteran players .
- The Oilers gave Perry a second chance, and he made the most of it on- and off-ice.
- Career narrative now includes:
- Stanley Cup champion,
- Hart Trophy winner,
- Olympian,
- Veteran Finalist across five teams,
- Exemplar of personal resilience.
- American sports increasingly weigh leadership and character off ice just as heavily as performance on ice—Perry embodied both.
- His success may reinforce front-line value in veteran playoff specialists, not just flash scorers.
As of June 2025:
- Edmonton hasn’t locked in Perry’s future beyond 2024‑25. His 2025‑26 status remains uncertain.
- At 40 years old, physical decline may accelerate—Edmonton must decide if they want another year of depth and mentorship.
- Perry could transition to coaching, scouting, or mentorship roles (as some fans suggested) (reddit.com, en.wikipedia.org, dailyfaceoff.com, thehockeywriters.com).
For Edmonton’s era of contention, his presence may have been an understated linchpin in playoff success—even in finals losses.
Financial impact was modest (< $2M across two seasons), yet he delivered substantial intangible leadership and clutch moments.
Edmonton’s signing of Corey Perry was:
- Strategic: Added playoff-seasoned depth at an unexpectedly low cost.
- Sensitive: Managed a controversial player situation culturally and operationally.
- Rewarding: Achieved historic playoff runs, including back-to-back finals.
- Model behavior: Demonstrated how teams can responsibly sign and support individuals while reinforcing organizational values.
Perry’s Edmonton chapter is one of reinvention—both personally and professionally—and stands as a compelling case example in modern NHL roster-building philosophy.In summary: The one-year contract was a masterstroke in low-risk, high-reward veteran acquisition. It not only bolstered Edmonton’s playoff depth and culture but also gave Corey Perry a stage for redemption and meaningful contributions—on a veteran understudy’s journey that has both reshaped and defined this chapter of Oilers hockey.
Let me know if you’d like an even deeper dive into specific playoff games, statistical breakdowns, or how Perry compares to other veteran signings league‑wide!
