The Edmonton Oilers got a little more gritty, greasy and skilled by bringing Corey Perry into the mix. Despite being 38 years old, he’s still a feisty competitor, having won at every level of hockey and has won individual hardware, capturing the Rocket Richard and Hart Trophy in 2011 and some would argue he has a shot at the Hockey Hall of Fame once his career is over.
Perry was released, and his contract was terminated by the Chicago Blackhawks in late November and while the details surrounding the reasons for his release aren’t precisely clear, it’s presumed to be due to ‘unacceptable’ behaviour.
Perry mentioned in a recent press conference that he and Connor McDavid had a conversation before he committed to the Oilers, meaning the captain was fully onboard with bringing in Perry from the get-go, even with a previous behaviour of concern that could be deemed as inappropriate. However, the Oilers have also enjoyed success in bringing in reclamation projects during McDavid’s tenure with the team. With Perry, he seems to be the third such project they’re hoping they can turn into a success.
Below we’ll take a look at the two other players who faced challenges in the past but found success with the Oilers during McDavid’s time and we also dive into Perry’s fit with the team.
Zack Kassian Became an Oilers’ Fan Favourite
Former Oiler and recently retired Zack Kassian spent seven seasons with the Oilers organization, and he became a fan favourite in Oil Country due to his unique blend of physicality, scoring touch and willingness to drop the gloves with anyone when he was in his prime.
Related: Knoblauch Makes First Major Line Changes as Oilers Coach
Latest News & Highlights
Kassian played a total of 412 games in an Oilers uniform, but before that, he was a player with a troublesome past. Originally drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in 2009, he had a tumultuous journey in the NHL, playing for the Vancouver Canucks and had a very brief stint with the Montreal Canadiens.
He had a history of inconsistent play and off-ice issues; however, his most significant setback occurred when he was involved in a car accident in 2015. He was a passenger in the vehicle involved in the accident, and the driver, initially deemed impaired, was eventually acquitted of drunk driving. Kassian was intoxicated at the time of the collision and was consequently forced to enter the NHL’s…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at The Hockey Writers…