After another heartbreaking loss in the Stanley Cup Final, right-winger Corey Perry’s future with the Edmonton Oilers is uncertain. Tuesday night’s 5-1 defeat to the Florida Panthers marked the second-straight Stanley Cup win for Florida and another bitter ending for Perry.
With his one-year, $1.15 million deal set to expire on July 1, questions arise about where Perry will play next.
Will Corey Perry Test Free Agency?
On The Chris Johnston Show, veteran NHL reporter Chris Johnston weighed in on Perry’s situation.
“I certainly think a reunion or an extended stay in Edmonton is possible… I just wonder if there’s teams out there knocking on his door. He’s not Brad Marchand in his career, but look what Marchand’s doing at age 37 for the Panthers. It wouldn’t surprise me if Perry maybe gets to free agency. None of this is being hammered out. But he’s a name to watch. I don’t think it’s impossible that he could hit the open market,” Johnston explained.
There’s clear interest in what adding Perry to your team brings: playoff experience and leadership.
Even though he’s no longer the top-line scorer he once was with the Anaheim Ducks, teams recognize the value he adds, especially in the postseason. His last multi-year deal, worth $2 million, was with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2021, and now another contract could be in the works if the situation is right.
Perry has now lost five Stanley Cup Finals with four different teams: the Dallas Stars (2020), the Montreal Canadiens (2021), the Tampa Bay Lightning (2022), and the Oilers in 2024 and 2025. No other player in NHL history shares that record.
Corey Perry loses his 5th Stanley Cup Final in the past 6 years 🤯😬
One of the most heartbreaking runs in sports history… pic.twitter.com/CgIaEREqHx
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) June 18, 2025
Despite this unlucky statistic, Perry remains a key figure in any team’s playoff push. He played a vital role in Edmonton’s postseason journey, scoring 10 goals and four assists in 22 playoff games. In the regular season, he posted 19 goals and 11 assists over 81 games, a solid contribution for a player in his 21st NHL season.
The Oilers might want to keep him for his depth on the ice and his leadership in the locker room. However, with other teams potentially interested and Perry now 40, both sides must weigh this decision carefully.
Ultimately, Perry may enter free agency again, continuing his NHL journey in search of one last chance to reclaim the Stanley Cup. This dream still motivates the veteran despite past near misses. The hockey world will be watching closely as July 1 draws near.
