Edmonton Oilers winger Evander Kane recently spoke highly of teammate Corey Perry, whose playoff performance has been a major storyline this postseason. On the “SNIPES & STRIPES” podcast with Jeremy Roenick and Tim Peel, Kane said experience often outweighs youth when it comes to winning hockey’s biggest prize.
Evander Kane Praises Corey Perry’s Veteran Presence as Oilers Push for Cup
“Age is just a number,” Kane said. “Everybody wants youth and young and young. But if you look at it, I think we’re the oldest team in the league. We’re back-to-back in the Cup Finals. You definitely need players like true NHL players. You need a lot of them in order to win. You need experience, and there’s nobody more experienced on our team than Corey Perry.”
He pointed to Perry’s leadership as a key reason why the Oilers, one of the league’s older teams, are in their second straight Stanley Cup Final. Kane also praised Perry’s knack for scoring around the crease.
“The one thing you don’t lose is your touch and your feel. He’s always been a guy around the net. He scores a lot of his goals in or around the net,” Kane said, giving credit to the 40-year-old for his clutch performances in big moments.
Perry Powers Oilers to Stanley Cup Final With Historic Playoff Run at Age 40
Perry, who just turned 40, has been a standout this postseason. He’s notched seven goals and 10 points in 16 games, tying Leon Draisaitl for the team lead in goals. He also set a new NHL record for the most goals in a playoff run by a player aged 39 or older at the start of the postseason.
His Game 5 opener against the Stars came on Edmonton’s first shot and helped the team punch its ticket to the Final. With Zach Hyman injured, Perry has been skating on the top line with Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, giving him his most prominent offensive role in years.
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Corey Perry opens the scoring in Game 5 with his 7th goal of the playoffs!#LetsGoOilers 1 | 0 #TexasHockey
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It’s a major turnaround from his regular season, when he posted just 30 points over 81 games. Now averaging more than half a point per game in the playoffs, Perry is showing he can still rise to the moment when it matters most.
Perry’s playoff career has had its highs and lows. After winning the Stanley Cup in 2007, he’s played in five of the last six Finals, losing the last four with different teams. This year marks his sixth trip to the Final, and he’s trying to finally finish the job.
Reflecting on the moment, Perry said, “This is why we play the game. This is the dream.”
The Oilers are set to face the Florida Panthers as they try to end a 34-year championship drought. While Edmonton chases history and Perry hunts redemption, his performance reminds everyone that playoff success isn’t just for the young. It’s for those who show up when it counts.
