Corey Perry ready to take on next challenge 'with a purpose'

Corey Perry isn’t ready to fade away.

After being bought out by the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday, which cut his tenure with the franchise agonizingly short of 1,000 games, Perry isn’t just looking to land on his feet. He wants to put a team over the top.

“This has definitely lit a fire in me,” Perry said, according to TSN’s Frank Seravalli. “I want to win again. I’ve felt that feeling at every level and I want to feel it again. I watch teams win the Stanley Cup every year and I see how much emotion comes up when they win. It’s the hardest trophy to win and you need on-ice leadership and experience.

“I will get back to the player I used to be.”

One of the most decorated players in hockey history, Perry is entering an unforeseen unrestricted free agent period with very little momentum behind him. His production falling off over the last few seasons, Perry was limited to 31 games in his final year with the Ducks, collecting just six goals and 10 points.

While injuries have contributed to his decline, and made the task of keeping pace in the high-tempo NHL that much more difficult, there is a belief that he can be a cost-effective offseason addition for a club looking to add depth to their winger position.

Perry intends to validate that idea.

“I’m going to go in with a purpose,” he said.

There’s expected to be no shortage of interest in Perry, with a variety of contract proposals to be tabled in his direction. But if it is competing for a championship that he covets, he might have to accept a specialty role that includes a power-play focus and reduced even-strength minutes.

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