Montreal Canadiens: Former Habs Veteran To Give Huge Boost To NHL's Hottest Team

The Montreal Canadiens added veteran winger Corey Perry to their roster ahead of the 2020-21 season.

The former Hart Trophy winner had been bought out of a previous contract with the Anaheim Ducks after dropping from the heights of the league's leading goal scorer to a low of ten points in 31 games in 2018-19.

In between Anaheim and Montreal he played one season with the Dallas Stars where he scored 21 points in 57 games as well as nine points in 21 playoff games. He proved to be effective in a depth role for the Stars, helping them reach the Stanley Cup Final and was even better for the Canadiens.

Perry scored nine goals and 21 points in 49 regular season games and then put up ten points in 22 playoff games as he helped the Canadiens reach the Stanley Cup Final. He played a depth role at even strength on a veteran, smart, two-way line with Eric Staal and Joel Armia and was a pivotal leader in the dressing room as well.

That made it two consecutive years he helped a young, unexpected team make a run to the final. He didn't pile up points but played a depth role and actually proved to be quite effective in front of the net on the power play as well. Havoc was caused on a regular basis by him and he was a thorn in the opposing team's side on a nightly basis.

Perry moved on from Montreal to play two seasons in Tampa Bay where he would incredibly lose a third consecutive Stanley Cup Final. He once again proved to be a valuable contributor from a depth role. Last spring he had five points in six playoff games but the Lightning were eliminated early by the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Perry began this season with the Chicago Blackhawks where he was entrusted to be the mentor and role model for first overall pick and future face of the NHL Connor Bedard. Unfortunately for Perry, his contract was terminated under somewhat mysterious circumstances.

A few reporters have made mention that the situation is not one that should lead to Perry being banned from the game for any time but they are not willing to report any details of what led to the contract being dismantled.

As such, Perry became a free agent and recently signed with the Edmonton Oilers. He is expected to make his Oilers debut tonight, and if he can be anywhere near the same player he was with the Canadiens he will have an immediate and important impact.

The Oilers are a team that have been really good for years but haven't gotten over the playoff hurdle. Perry will likely play on the fourth line but just made the NHL's hottest team, currently on a 15 game winning streak, way harder to play against.

His impact may not be felt right away, but just like he did with the Canadiens, Perry will make the Oilers a way better team in the playoffs. After losing in the Stanley Cup Final three of the past four years, you can't help but hope for Perry to win it all this year.