Canadiens' Perry intends to play next year, wants real Montreal experience

July 09, 2021 - 11:59am

Corey Perry weighs his options for next season and talks returning to the Montreal Canadiens after coming up big in the playoffs.

Corey Perry got a taste of what it’s like to be professional hockey player in Montreal, and now he wants more.

In his season-ending availability on Friday, two days removed from a Game 5 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning that put an end to the Montreal Canadiens’ Cinderella Stanley Cup run, the soon-to-be free-agent forward expressed his desire to return to la belle province.

“Yes, I intend to play hockey next year. There’s still a lot of good hockey left in me, and I would love to come back to experience Montreal for what it’s like really being in Montreal,” said the 36-year-old, per Sportsnet’s Eric Engels.

"Yes, I intend to play hockey next year. There's still a lot of good hockey left in me, and I would love to come back to experience Montreal for what it's like really being in Montreal."–Corey Perry

— Eric Engels (@EricEngels) July 9, 2021

Perry’s season in Montreal was far from the norm, played in front of an empty Bell Centre until Game 6 of their first-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Perry, though far from the player he was in his heyday in Anaheim, put his blood (literally), sweat and tears into the Canadiens post-season push, putting up 10 points in 22 playoff contests en route to his second appearance in the Cup Final in a row.

Yep, Corey Perry is bleeding again… #ItsOn pic.twitter.com/ZN4DYWMdbl

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) July 6, 2021

After making headlines for getting placed on waivers to start the season, Perry, the 2011 Hart Trophy winner, carved out a niche in Montreal’s lineup, recording 21 points in 49 regular-season games.

Perry has signed back-to-back one-year deals after getting bought out by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2019 off-season.

Over the course of his 16-year NHL career, Perry has also won the Maurice Richard Trophy, a Stanley Cup, made four all-star game appearances and is a member of the exclusive Triple Gold Club.

In 1094 NHL games, he’s notched 386 goals and 432 assists for 818 points.

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