Good evening Anaheim,
With the current bleak outlook for this Anaheim Ducks squad, there hasn’t been much to look forward to. Injuries every other minute, the offense running dry and completely fabricated Frank Seravalli rumors, it’s been tough. So, trying to find brevity in this season, a new wrinkle has developed. Corey Perry, the third leading points scorer in Ducks history, is free to sign with a team again. This comes after his contract termination from the Chicago Blackhawks and a self scheduled meeting with commissioner Gary Bettman to address his issues. Corey was not disciplined by the NHL but reportedly took time to address his mental health, relationship with alcohol and whole-heartedly seemed to have taken the termination seriously.With his newfound ability to sign with any team, and the market for his veteran leadership and playoff pedigree being rather high, let’s look into how he could fit into potential teams from the perspective of Anaheim fans. For this list, we will go through each NHL team, see how it would fit, and rate it on the most appropriate ranking I can think of. Zero to five worms.
Atlantic Division
Boston Bruins – 🪱🪱
Boston is having a good year, but if you look at how the team is built, they really don’t need Corey Perry. The heir to the throne of biggest pest has transferred from the Worm to the Rat in Brad Marchand. If he really wanted to chase a Cup, I could see it, but this just lacks oomph in my eyes.
Florida Panthers – 🪱🪱🪱🪱
I think this would be so much fun. Matthew Tkachuk has openly talked about how he modeled his game after Pears, and that team is already so much fun to watch. With their playoff experience and ability for Corey to pass on his teachings to Matthew, it would be so much fun watching that team go out and make every opponent pissed as hell.
Toronto Maple Leafs –
Yep, zero worms. Toronto, outside of being the heart of die hard, overreacting fans and scrutinizing media could be a fun place to play. But with how fast their team can turn on a player and how much Perry’s game can be love or hate, I don’t want to see that market get a hold of him.
Tampa Bay Lightning – 🪱🪱🪱
He’s already been there, the team knows him and the fanbase really likes him. The reason this fit doesn’t get the best rating is because one, it would just be a rehash from the previous years. Two, their window doesn’t seem to be the best, and if he goes to another team, let him go to a true contender.
Detroit Red Wings – 🪱
For a non-Ducks fan, this could be an interesting spot. Perry on the same team as Patrick Kane and working with Debrincat sounds fun on paper. For us Ducks fans, it does not. I have no interest in watching Patrick Kane work with St. Perry and do not want to have to second-handedly root for Kane. As well, for the older Duck fans who remember the rivalry with Detroit, this would leave a bad taste in their mouths.
Montreal Canadiens – 🪱🪱
Just a boring pick in my mind. He’s been with them before, he helped them get to a cup before, but Carey Price is not coming in with him. Montreal doesn’t look to be contending and wouldn’t make much sense as a travel destination for him unless he really just wants to play for the team he grew up rooting for again.
Buffalo Sabres – 🪱🪱🪱
I really wish Buffalo was in a better spot in the standings, because this could be a fun watch for Ducks fans. With how cursed this team has been in missing out on the playoffs, it would be both beneficial to have Perry’s leadership on the team and his style of game to get some gross goals to pair with their forwards. Alas, it looks like they’ll be on the outside looking in again.
Ottawa Senators – 🪱
Just why would he? Bottom of the Atlantic, the team is in disarray. The only thing I can think of that would be fun is pairing him with Brady Tkachuk? Just don’t see it happening and don’t think it would be that fun of a watch.
Metropolitan Division
New York Rangers – 🪱🪱🪱
This is a weird one for me. I think the Rangers are in an excellent position to make a cup run, and would easily have a use for Corey. That being said, something about him being on an original 6 team again doesn’t sit right with me. It may just be me not able to imagine him in that sweater, or thinking it would look as weird as when Kane did it last year.
Carolina Hurricanes – 🪱🪱🪱🪱
I think this would be very fun. Carolina has been squandering their cup window and have yet to make it to the finals. With Perry having buckets of experience getting to the Cup Final, there’s a clear need for him. As well, with how fast they play, having a veteran down in the goal crease being a menace would be incredible to pick up that team. Though they should be trading for a goalie instead…
Philadelphia Flyers – 🪱
I am contractually obligated by the rest of Anaheim Calling to not air my grievances with Philadelphia fans. I will not mention their fanbase, their team nor give a personal opinion on how we’ve suddenly become rivals over a child who cannot buy a beer yet. I don’t want him to be signed by this team, and I don’t want Torts to be anywhere near St. Perry.
New York Islanders – 🪱🪱
The Isles are a weird team for me this year. I don’t know what to make of them and I don’t think they would be a team wanting to add for a playoff run. It could be fun to see him on a line with Barzal, but other than that I don’t see the appeal on either end.
New Jersey Devils – 🪱🪱🪱🪱
Hide away old school Mighty Ducks fans, but I think this would be very cool to see. The Devils are going to try in the second half of the season to make a playoff push, and with how young that team is, a veteran winger could make a big difference. Perry teaching the Hughes brothers how to be a pest, and working with Meier to get his offensive output back up? Sign me up. Don’t think this would be his best chance for another cup, but it would be fun to root for.
Washington Capitals – 🪱
Watching Ovechkin and Perry on the same team would be jarring to me. Like watching someone play their fantasy hockey team from 2011 on a real NHL team. Watching him in that jersey next to Ovi would feel just wrong, like a crossover episode no-one asked for. Not for me.
Pittsburgh Penguins – 🪱🪱🪱
Bird brothers. With this being the last window for the Penguins having all of Malkin, Crosby and Letang, why not add in another old guy? This would feel weird again, knowing the sad history of the Ducks and Sid, but I do think this is a weird all in move Dubas could pull to try and get one more chance at the playoffs? I wouldn’t be excited about the signing, but I would tune in.
Columbus Blue Jackets – 🪱
Why? Can’t see how either side of this would benefit. Maybe Columbus wants a veteran to teach Fantilli or re-invigorate Laine/Gaudreau? I don’t think this is a possibility that Duck fans should worry about.
Central Division
Winnipeg Jets – 🪱🪱🪱
The Winnipeg Jets are probably the biggest surprise of the season. Scheifele is still holding down the true north, and the return from the PLD trade already looks really lopsided (Thanks LA). If they want a deep playoff run, get someone who’s been past the 2nd round since 2018. Also when Connor gets healthy, imagine Corey cleaning up deflections near the crease. Perfect.
Colorado Avalanche – 🪱🪱🪱🪱
In purely a cup chase move, I can easily see the Avalanche giving Perry a call. Given how the Avs have faced Perry in the Cup Finals before, they know his style of game and how well it can translate to playoff hockey. Let him work on Cogliano’s line and imagine it’s 2012 back in Orange County for him.
Dallas Stars – 🪱🪱🪱🪱
A return back to a former team, this would make sense for their cup window. Benn and Pavelski aren’t getting any younger, and he would be a simple pickup and play into their lines. I would almost bet that the Stars have reached out to him to see if he wants to join on a veteran minimum contract. Wouldn’t hurt that almost all of the guys from their last cup appearance with him are still on the team.
Nashville Predators –
Zero. No. Not allowed. No. He knows what they’ve done. No.
St. Louis Blues – 🪱
This falls under the category of “who in this would benefit?” Blues need a rebuild and are dancing around it. Wouldn’t provide Perry with a Cup run and they aren’t in need for a veteran forward. Also if he joins, there will be a report that he tried to fight Binnington at a practice leaked out.
Arizona Coyotes – 🪱🪱
Perry is a pest, and that isn’t going to change. That being said, I don’t want that to add onto the weird rivalry between the Coyotes and the Ducks currently. Though with them being a younger team that plays a physical game coupled with youngsters that have a high skill level, I can easily see him slot in. So with that tug-of-war between a good fit and the new Ducks-Coyotes rivalry (that he was never really a part of) I land in the middle.
Minnesota Wild – 🪱🪱
If the Wild were in the position they were in last year, this would probably be closer to 4 worms. Alas, with the Wild just plummeting in the central, there shouldn’t be interest between either side. Though I think it would be a fun fit, I can’t see it happening with what each side needs right now. But man, would a line with him and Eriksson Ek or Boldy be fun to watch.
Chicago Blackhawks –
We can chalk up exactly 1 team that he will not sign with. Not that any of us loved when he signed with them in the offseason, see my own example. The only reason any of us were okay with it was because “They gave him $4 million? He’s 38. And they gave him $4 million?” was all of our reactions.
Pacific Division
Vancouver Canucks – 🪱🪱🪱
Maybe? I can see the appeal for the Canucks side for sure. They didn’t expect to be as high in the standings this year, they don’t have the best assets to go all in this season, so a pickup like Perry could be useful. Give this young team a good veteran to lean on as they make their first non-COVID playoff run since 2015.
Vegas Golden Knights –
Just sign Phil Kessel again. He’ll be cheaper and already knows your system. Most fanbases already don’t like you, so don’t go full heel on everyone. If you need a veteran wingers, I’m sure Phil is still aimlessly wandering around Harry Reid International waiting on a call.
Los Angeles Kings –
… don’t … I refuse to think about this and you cannot make me.
Edmonton Oilers –
This team is why I decided I wanted to write this article. A coworker of mine on Thursday came up to me and asked “hey, when is Corey Perry joining the Oilers?” and I thought about it. Not about Corey on the team, rather if it was worth getting written up by HR for punching this person in the mouth. The Oilers are going to call him, and it will be up to him to not answer that. I don’t want to think about him and Evander Kane wearing the same jersey ever.
Seattle Kraken – 🪱🪱
Kraken have been pretty hot recently, winning their last 9 games. Will they make a playoff push? I don’t think so, and that’s also about where they land on this list. I don’t see a reason for either side to pursue this, though it could be nice to watch him lead this young team as a seasoned veteran.
Calgary Flames – 🪱
The Flames are a mess, and need to shed money fast. Almost all of their recent signings have blown up in their face, and adding at a deadline makes no sense for them. Not going to happen, so no need to look into it more.
Anaheim Ducks – 🪱🪱🪱🪱🪱
Yeah, I’m biased as hell, but this would be so much fun for fans. The current team is riddled with holes from injuries, is going to be eviscerated at the deadline with trades, and most of the veteran leadership at forward will not be on the team. We need scoring and we need someone to teach the young forward core. Bring him back, get him to teach Mason how to be a true netfront greaseball, teach Zegras how to lean into being polarizing and annoying to every other team. Hell, get him on the team for Cutter later on, who’s already a villain to some. The young forwards would completely benefit from having a veteran guy still around, and Silfverberg isn’t going to cut it. We would have to massively overpay him, but just do it Pat. Have some fun.
San Jose Sharks –
They’re tanking and their true fans still watching were the same ones that watched back in the 2010s. They have not forgotten how much they hate him. No way they make a call for him.