Anaheim Ducks Re-tool Player Evaluation: Corey Perry

If the Anaheim Ducks are on the path to a retool, what does this mean for the future of their players?

Bob Murray, in recent statements following the trade of Brandon Montour, mentioned that the Ducks are in a retool. They are trying to get younger, faster and return this team to the prestige that he, the fans, and the owners have grown accustomed to. Over the next few weeks, we will be breaking down where some of the players on the Anaheim Ducks stand in terms of that re-tool. Some will be part of the core, some will be likely trade pieces, and some will be question marks.

“Scorey” Perry

We started with the captain, the logical next choice would be his right-hand man, his “twin” for the entirety of their NHL run, Corey Perry. Perry was drafted 9 picks after the captain in the same “Super Draft” in 2003, 28th overall. From the start of the 2005-06 season, Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry have been linked. Spending the entirety of his career to this point with the Anaheim Ducks, Perry has carved out quite an impressive career.

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Perry has been named to 4 All-Star Games, won both the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy and the Hart Memorial trophy in 2010-11, a season he scored a career-high 50 goals. He currently sits tied with his “twin” for most games played in franchise history, 2nd in goal scored in franchise history, and 3rd in assists and points.

Corey Perry has been a core player on the Anaheim Ducks, has been a part of the lone Stanley Cup win for the franchise and is likely to see his number raised in the rafters once he does retire. So, 33-year-old Corey Perry should be a lock to be part of the future right? Well, it’s hard to say. Perry is not the 50 goal scorer of yesteryear, he’s probably not a top 6 forward on the majority of teams in the league, but he is still a fairly good player.

He still creates offense, he still manages to be one of the better offensive players on the Ducks (albeit: offensively anemic.) Perry still has 2 more years on his current contract following this season, at $8.625M a year, and is reportedly isn’t overly high on GM Bob Murray‘s list of favorite players. So what will happen with Perry?

Prediction

Like Getzlaf, it seems unlikely that Corey Perry will be moved. He makes more money than Getzlaf dos. Although he’s not as productive at this juncture of his career as Getzlaf, it would likely take an asset to move him. For a team that is re-tooling, it makes more sense to ride out the remaining two years of his contract than to pay an asset for instant relief, especially when Perry can still contribute, even if it is not necessarily up to par with the contract he is being paid.

Perry also has a no-movement clause (like Getzlaf) and would need to waive it to be traded, which also seems unlikely for someone who has spent the entirety of their adult life in one place. I think Perry will ride out the rest of his contract, and at that point, Perry will likely evaluate his options and either retire or follow in the steps of other veterans who chase a cup, be that with Anaheim or elsewhere.

The only thing that throws a wrench into the situation is Murray reportedly not being a huge fan of Perry, which could lead to him moving him as more of a statement than anything else. I don’t think that will happen, however.

Confidence in Prediction: 6/10

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