Marc Bergevin continues to stick to his word of wanting to add to the Montreal Canadiens by signing Corey Perry to a one-year deal.
The Montreal Canadiens – Toronto Maple Leafs rivalry just got a whole lot more interesting. The Leafs were criticized as being an easy team to play against, and general manager Kyle Dubas made it a point to add to that overall team toughness with the likes of Wayne Simmonds and Zach Bogosian. However, Bergevin is on a mission himself to push the Habs to the next level, and Corey Perry is the next piece of that puzzle.
It’s important to wash the “sloppy seconds” aspect of this signing out. There was talk that Perry was interested in signing with the Leafs, and the interest was, in fact, mutual. However, it was either Simmonds or Perry for Toronto, and they chose to go for the former right at the beginning of free agency. Perry, on the other hand, has been waiting for an opportunity to join another team and chose to join the Montreal Canadiens who have high aspirations for the upcoming year.
Perry’s 2019-20 story is a cautionary tale as he didn’t have the best season with the Dallas Stars. He put up 5 goals and 16 assists for 21 points in 57 games averaging 13:43 a night. The veteran’s game peaked in the playoffs with 5 goals and 4 assists for 9 points in 27 games. Not an overwhelming production total, but his overall play was the kind of hockey most respect and value, especially in a deep playoff run.
The Peterborough native was once a renowned goal scorer in the NHL but has now changed roles to being a depth agitator who can pitch in offensively. That’s what the Montreal Canadiens need.
Hockey minds such as Brian Burke have praised Marc Bergevin for his work this season, saying he’s made the Habs the most improved team as far as playoff readiness goes. Perry is a player who has won a Stanley Cup, been on gold medal-winning national teams and has been on deep playoff runs in his time with the Anaheim Ducks.
And at $750,000, there’s absolutely no risk to it.