After being bought out earlier this week, former Anaheim Ducks superstar Corey Perry now has his choice of landing spot for the 2019-20 season. Though he may not be worth the $8.625MM cap hit he carried for Anaheim, there will likely be teams willing to bet on his history as a perennial 30+ goal scorer and give him a short-term deal. Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic (subscription required) reports that several have already shown interest, and links the Nashville Predators and Chicago Blackhawks to the veteran forward.
Perry is actually eligible for a one-year bonus-laden contract despite being only 34, thanks to his injury from last season. That could be a perfect way to mitigate risk for an acquiring team while providing Perry with an opportunity to make back some of the money he lost from the buyout.
- Patrick Marleau seemed destined for a new team just a few weeks ago, but Toronto Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas told reporters yesterday that there is a “strong chance” the veteran remains for at least the start of the season. The Maple Leafs could desperately use the cap space a Marleau trade would create, but are obviously limited by his full no-movement clause. Marleau is due a $3MM signing bonus this season, but Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reported last month that it is paid out in two installments—July and December. It is expected that the forward only wants to return to California, where his family has returned to their San Jose home.
- The Ottawa Senators could be a landing spot for several veterans on expensive deals, as Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia writes that five or six teams have spoken with GM Pierre Dorion about sending bad contracts the the Canadian capital. With the Senators embracing their rebuild with an extremely low salary base, the team could welcome expensive veterans along with a “sweetener” in order to provide some leadership for their young group while also adding to the future. Ottawa currently projects to have just $48.5MM in commitments to next season.
A very dumb question I haven’t seen asked enough: why would Toronto even think about granting this trade request when 2 short years ago Marleau was more than happy to take the big payday and leave his ‘home’ with eyes wide open? Did he somehow think the Leafs were relocating to Cali?
I don’t know if Marleau has actually made a request to be traded so much that the leafs want to move his contract. Probably told him they were going to try and move him and he said he would accept to a team in California.
As a Black Hawk fanatic for many years, I would like to see Corey Perry come to the Black Hawks, on a short term reduced contract if he would accept the deal , as a possible 3rd line Right Winger. Come on Corey Chicago is calling.
Winnipeg is calling too. Just don’t go to Nashville.
Black Hawks changed to Blackhawks in 1986. Go Hawks