The Edmonton Oilers have re-signed veteran forward Corey Perry to a one-year contract worth up to $1.4 million, the team announced on Monday, July 1.
Perry’s new deal includes a base salary of $1.15 million with an additional $250,000 available through performance bonuses, potentially bringing his total earnings to $1.4 million for the 2024-25 season.
The signing has caught some analysts off guard, including Daniel Nugent-Bowman of The Athletic, who called it “puzzling” just days after predicting Perry was likely to leave the Oilers before free agency.
“[Oilers CEO Jeff] Jackson signed 39-year-old right winger Corey Perry to a one-year, $1.15 million contract against the cap, with incentives pushing the deal to $1.4 million,” Nugent-Bowman wrote. “This move is surprising given Perry’s limited impact last season, where he scored just 1 goal and 3 points in 19 playoff games.”
Nugent-Bowman pointed out that Perry was scratched from the lineup multiple times and struggled to find a consistent role, making the pay increase seem unexpected.
Despite his challenges, Perry played in 38 regular-season games for the Oilers, scoring 13 points after joining the team from the Chicago Blackhawks, who had waived him in November 2023.
The Oilers brought Perry, who just turned 39, on board mid-season primarily for his experience and leadership. Head coach Kris Knoblauch praised Perry’s contributions during the playoffs, despite his limited on-ice performance.
“He’s been a great mentor for both our younger and older players,” Knoblauch said after Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals. “His presence is valuable whether he’s on the ice or not.”
Although Perry wasn’t a standout during the Oilers’ deep postseason run, he has appeared in four of the last five Stanley Cup Finals with different teams: the Dallas Stars in 2020, Montreal Canadiens in 2021, Tampa Bay Lightning in 2022, and the Oilers in 2024. He also won the Cup with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007.
With 429 goals and 905 points across 1,311 NHL games, Perry was drafted by the Ducks as the No. 28 pick in 2003. He won the Hart Trophy and Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy in 2011 after scoring 50 goals and 98 points in a single season.
The Oilers have been active in free agency, enhancing their roster with a mix of internal and external additions. They signed Viktor Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner, brought in goalie Collin Delia, and added defensemen Joshua Brown and Connor Carrick. They also secured extensions with Perry, Connor Brown, Mattias Janmark, Troy Stecher, and Adam Henrique.
Among these, only Henrique and Arvidsson received contracts exceeding $4.5 million per year, with both signing two-year deals that provide the Oilers with significant flexibility. Brown signed a one-year deal for $1 million, Janmark a three-year deal at a $1.45 million average annual value, and Skinner for $3 million over one season.
Nugent-Bowman believes the Oilers are entering the 2024-25 season with their strongest forward group since the days of Wayne Gretzky, suggesting that the team’s top six—possibly top nine—might be the best they’ve had since the 1988 era.