Playing Devil’s Advocate: What Would Trading Corey Perry Do For The Anaheim Ducks?

May 19, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks right wing Corey Perry (10) controls the puck against Chicago Blackhawks left wing

(20) in the second period in game two of the Western Conference Final of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

For starters, the Anaheim Ducks are not yet in the position of openly-shopping Perry.  That would make the franchise look absolutely clueless. Toronto was shopping Kessel because the roster was not getting results; Anaheim clearly is on the opposite side of the spectrum.

Still, there are legitimate reasons as to why GM Bob Murray would consider other teams’ offers for Perry.

1. At the age of 30, Perry is no longer a player you build around.   Yes, he’s still one of the best scorers in the league, and has good seasons left in him – but his best days will soon be behind him, if they are not already.

2. He still has value.  If some GM was out-of-his-mind desperate to win, now, and offered a king’s ransom for Perry, how could Bob Murray not at least entertain the thought?

3. While you cannot argue that he didn’t show up in the playoffs, you can argue that he disappeared when Anaheim needed him the most.  In Games 6 & 7 of the Western Conference Finals, Perry had one goal, no assists, and a -4 rating.  He took only four shots in the those crucial games – only one in Game 6, on the road in Chicago, when the Ducks blew a chance to wrap the series up.

Now, none of these are the sort of conditions that scream, “Why haven’t you traded him already?”  Still, it’s hard to argue that Corey Perry is an untouchable player, a la Sidney Crosby or John Tavares.  For those reasons, if a team came a’knocking with its wallets open, Bob Murray would listen, and for good reasons.

Whether he pulls the trigger or not?  That’s another slide!

Next: What it Would Take to Trade Corey Perry