Trade rumors continue to swirl around Corey Perry. While some Anaheim Ducks fans are all for it, our Chris Bushell believes he should stick around for another run at the Stanley Cup.
Anaheim Ducks right wing Corey Perry has been called every name in the book, both good and bad. He’s an NHL All-Star, former MVP, Olympic Gold Medalist, Rocket Richard winner, and most importantly a Stanley Cup champion. On the other hand, people are also starting to call him old.
His overall value and skill have been the most divisive issue among Anaheim Ducks fans the last couple years (minus the whole Frederik Andersen vs. John Gibson debate). No, this article is about how Corey Perry is still very good at hockey and fans shouldn’t give up on him yet.
Noise, Noise, Noise
About a week ago TSN named 25 potential trade targets at the upcoming draft and through the summer. Corey Perry found himself on this list at #25, but no substance other than his “declining stats” was given. Since then numerous sites have been posting the same articles citing the Ducks desire to move him. Between his cap hit, the teams that would be interested in him, and the fact I don’t think Perry is anywhere close to done; I don’t believe it is in the Ducks best interest to move on from him.
More from Ducks News
- Who could the Anaheim Ducks consider presenting offer sheets to?
- Is Pierre-Luc Dubois on the cards for the rebuilding Anaheim Ducks?
- Making the case for the Anaheim Ducks to trade with the Edmonton Oilers
- Anaheim Ducks might benefit tremendously by trading John Gibson
- How close are the Anaheim Ducks to becoming contenders again?
Heart of a Champion
Corey Perry and the newly rebranded Anaheim Ducks hoisted Lord Stanley’s Cup in Perry’s second NHL season. Since that time Perry like all Ducks players and fans have suffered through dramatic defeats, coming within one or two games of the Finals again.
In the day and age, sports have been taken over by stats. Not just simple stats like goals and assists but new fancy stats like Corsi, Fenwick, and others. Teams are putting more and more emphasis on these “advanced metrics” to field a winning team.
Stats have their place. In their rush to quantify everything, the modern fan has forgotten that athletes, at the end of the day, are human. Intangibles, such as the will to win and work ethic are vital. These are immeasurable factors that stats don’t account for. Perry isn’t a robot and stats don’t tell the whole story.
Perry is an integral part of the Anaheim Ducks core. He and Ryan Getzlaf are the only two left from the team’s championship season 11 years ago. They along with Ryan Kesler have all had to deal with adversity during their careers and are the team’s leaders.
Related Story: Celebrating 15 years of Getzlaf and Perry
If the core is to win another championship, the clock is ticking down. Perry is a competitor, always has been. Surely the core has discussed this among themselves. Perry has to turn it up a notch and I’m expecting a resurgence from number 10.
Injection of Youth
Perry has been a top-notch performer at every level he’s ever played in. The Ducks have counted on Perry to provide offense since his debut. The mileage on his tires is adding up.
This season should bring Perry’s 1,000th NHL game as well as 800th NHL point, he’s played a lot of hockey. Much of that hockey was when the Ducks were a top-heavy team. For the 2018-19 season, some of the load and pressure should be off of Perry.
The Ducks will replace some of their bottom six forwards by injecting a few talented youngsters this fall. The likes of Sam Steel, Troy Terry, Max Jones, and Kevin Roy could crack the line-up. Then there is the emergence of Ondrej Kase who’s continued development with line-mate Adam Henrique will also help.
In the locker room, Rickard Rakell took a big step to being a leader on this team in 2017-18. If he can return, Patrick Eaves is another player to be counted on for leadership. Should the hockey gods smile upon us with Ryan Kesler, the Ducks are poised to roll 4 scoring threat lines. Perry won’t have to do it alone. Defenders now have something to think about besides him. His line will have more chances to show the offensive skills we’re used to.
Fight Back
Next: Are the Ducks interested in Rasmus Ristolainen?
Perry hears all the rumors and internet chatter, it would be hard not to. My thought is that it will fuel Perry and the Ducks this year. The time is now for this team to capture that elusive second Cup. The Ducks are a better team with Perry than without him and for the Ducks to be 2019 Stanley Cup champs they want Corey Perry in tow.