Boston Bruins: Is it worth picking up Corey Perry from free agency?

The Boston Bruins still continue to look for help at the second-line right-wing position. However, because of a tight salary cap space, their options are limited. Would they consider veteran forward Corey Perry for that spot?

The Boston Bruins have to look for help offensively; that help has to be cheap and rather short-term. Good luck with that, one would say. On Wednesday, the Anaheim Ducks bought out Corey Perry and his gigantic contract. The Ducks needed salary cap relief as the 34-year-old forward had properly started to slow in his production. Would it be worthwhile for the Bruins to take a look at him?

On paper, Corey Perry would be a perfect fit for the Boston Bruins. He brings the physicality, experience and you’d have to believe some offensive ability is still there. It’s believed that he won’t require much in terms of money and the length of his new deal. Why?

Simply because the Ducks are still due more than $13 million to him. If he keeps playing, it’s not because of money. After playing in just 31 games last season, he won’t take a long-term deal, because he will need to prove himself and he knows that if he piles up some good numbers offensively, he might get a very good deal in the near future to finish his tremendous career.

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If that’s the case and he would take a, let’s say, a $2 million deal for one year, he could be perfect for the Boston Bruins. Last season, Corey Perry collected just four goals and six assists for 10 points in 31 games. Just two years ago, he shone for the Ducks in the playoffs. That time leading the Ducks to the Western Conference Final, Corey Perry registered four goals and seven assists for 11 points in 17 playoff games.

He still has it, one would believe. In addition, the 34-year-old right-winger is only 12 games away from playing in his 1000th NHL game. That’s also a huge motivation factor for him to keep playing hockey.

The Boston Bruins, however, would have to take a huge risk. Signing Perry to a one-year deal not worth a ton of money wouldn’t hurt though.

If a Perry experiment didn’t work out as planned, the Boston Bruins would just part ways with him in 2020 and the problem would be solved. There is not a case of repeating the deal the Kings signed Ilya Kovalchuk to. The Los Angeles Kings are stuck for a long time on a terrible contract. Corey Perry shouldn’t get a ton of attention from teams offering him a big money for three years or so.

That shouldn’t be the case for him. He has earned a lot and will continue to earn as the Ducks have to pay him via the recently executed buyout. One other huge factor of why the Bruins could attract Corey Perry is that they can offer him a second-line winger position. Also, the Bostons Bruins are a contender, Perry could play regularly and if he were to deliver, would have a shot, probably his last, at the Stanley Cup. Of course, he has already won the Cup in 2007 in Anaheim.

Way too many ‘woulds’ and ‘ifs’ appear in the last few sentences. Trusting Perry that he would be a right and cheap fit for the Boston Bruins is one thing. Finding cap space for him would be another. The Bruins currently have something around $14 million of the salary cap space. That should be good to re-sign restricted free agents as Brandon Carlo, Danton Heinen and most notably, Charlie McAvoy.

They would need extra $2-3 million to hypothetically sign Corey Perry. Kevan Miller’s deal worth $2.5 million concludes next year and the 31-year-old veteran defenseman will become an unrestricted free agent. The Bruins will probably necessitate repeating the Adam McQuaid trade, regardless of their needs.

Even if they renewed Kevan Miller, which would be very difficult based on the salary cap situation next year, he would be available for Seattle via the expansion draft.

One solution would resolve another problem and that would be a perfect scenario for the Bruins.

Is it worth a look though? Would Corey Perry accept such conditions on his potential deal in Boston? Would the Boston Bruins find a salary cap space for him? Those questions require an assessment of the front office before the potential talks with the camp of the player can even commence.