The Oilers Can’t Let Corey Perry Fall by the Wayside

At 39 years old, Corey Perry might not be the scorer he once was, but he offers value for the Edmonton Oilers. In a season where Perry isn’t always a regular in the lineup, Perry understands his role and he's making the most of it. As such, while the Oilers make their trade deadline plans, letting Perry 'fall by the wayside', whether as a healthy scratch or someone sacrificed for an 'upgrade', the Oilers should be cautious of mistakenly assuming he's not incredibly important.

Perry is slower and not as dynamic as he once was, but that doesn't mean he's ineffective. Perry’s game is a masterclass in effective gamesmanship. He has drawn 18 penalties this season, tying Leon Draisaitl for the team lead, while taking just eight himself, and he's done that in a fraction of the minutes Draisaitl gets.

Perry has an innate ability to provoke opponents into mistakes without overstepping the line. Every once in a while, he goes too far, but he's found a solid balance between being a pest and being targeted by officials. His performance against the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday was a perfect example.

Perry turned a potential Canucks power play into an even-strength situation by baiting Teddy Blueger into retaliation. He took a few punches with a smile on his face, all the while knowing he'd put Blueger on tilt.

Later in the game, Perry went after one of the Canucks' top stars. Knowing that the best way to exact revenge on the Canucks for targeting Connor McDavid a couple of days earlier, Perry went after Quinn Hughes to send a message.

Leon Draisaitl gleamed about Perry’s value, calling him “probably the best in the league” at knowing when and how to impact a game. Perry doesn’t just irritate opponents by being physical. Perry plants seeds of frustration and causes a distraction, often throwing the opposing team completely off-kilter.

Perry Scores, Too

Beyond just driving opponents wild, Perry hasn't completely lost his scoring touch. He has been productive in his limited role. With eight goals and 16 points in just 48 games, he’s proving he can still contribute offensively despite averaging just 11:30 of ice time per night.

He offers the Oilers an edge that can be the difference in critical moments. It's a character trait that not many players in the league have and the Oilers certainly miss it with Evander Kane out of the lineup. Edmonton would be wise to ensure Perry remains part of their lineup despite whatever trade deadline plans they might have.

Kurt Leavins of the Edmonton Journal wrote in his 9 Things post: "I have always been one of the guys who believed that even at 39 years old Corey Perry remains a useful player for the Oilers. But full disclosure: I have also been one of the guys wondering out loud whether or not he should be an every-game player. Well, after watching him own that game against the Canucks on Thursday…I realize I may have been wrong."

It's easy to agree with Leavins' assessment here. Perry has surprised in almost every way imaginable. It would be understandable for the Oilers to feel like adding depth is important at this season's deadline, and they probably will do just that. But it might prove detrimental to overlook Perry's contributions and usefulness as they do.

The Oilers should be cautious about adding too much and lacking the space to fit everyone in. Should they over-buy, Perry becomes someone who may not have a solid lock on a position at forward. If Edmonton takes him out to fit someone in, it could be one of those cases where you don't realize what you miss until it's gone.

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