How close was Corey Perry to joining an Ontario-based NHL team?
Hours after the pending unrestricted free agent inked an eight-year, $69-million contract extension with the Anaheim Ducks Monday night, the winger appeared on Hockey Central @ Noon Tuesday to discuss the factors that solidified his decision and how much thought he put in to pulling on the jersey of an Eastern Conference club.
Among the teams reportedly interested in securing Perry, either through trade or when the 2011 MVP became an unrestricted free agent this summer, were the cash-abundant Toronto Maple Leafs.
Asked if he considered testing a financially beneficial free-agent market and possibly signing with an Original Six club in the East, Perry was candid.
“I thought about going home. There’s always a thought of going home, that’s for sure, playing closer to your family and friends and being part of a different team,” said Perry.
Home for Perry is Peterborough, Ont., a 90-minute drive northeast of the Air Canada Centre.
The talented winger had extra time to consider his next contract after being suspended four games for an illegal check on the Minnesota Wild’s Jason Zucker on March 12.
“In the last eight or 10 days, I really sat back and thought about things, and we talked to the family, and this is where I want to be. This is where I’ve made my home for eight years, and I want to continue to make this my home for another eight years.”
But even Perry’s teammates were curious if the star’s future involved a return to Canada.
“As a Toronto fan myself, I was wondering if Perry might want to go home and play for a team like Toronto or Ottawa,” said Ducks forward Andrew Cogliano, who also appeared on Tuesday’s HC @ Noon.
The night before Perry’s centreman and longtime teammate, Ryan Getzlaf, re-upped with the Ducks to the tune of $66 million over eight years, he called Perry to gauge whether his friend and fellow UFA-to-be was also thinking of remaining in California.
“That kind of got the ball rolling. This is going to be a special team for a long time, when you get to play with an elite centreman like that. You look around the league, and there’s a lot of unknowns of what might be if you do move,” Perry said. “We’ve been together since Day One, so we know each other pretty well.”
But what was Perry’s mind-set prior to the Getzlaf deal? How close was he to testing the open market?
“It’s probably 40 per cent maybe (test free agency) and 60 per cent no. I was very undecided. I didn’t really know what I wanted to do,” Perry said. “Getting him signed was a huge key factor.”
It wasn’t just Getzlaf’s long-term commitment that helped Perry solidify his decision. Head coach Bruce Boudreau, known for getting the most out of his offensive talent, has the Ducks in second place overall. After missing the playoffs last season, Anaheim has won 21 of its first 28 games and holds a 12-point lead on the Stanley Cup champion L.A. Kings for first in the Pacific.
“When you come to the rink every day, there’s smiles on everybody’s faces. It’s a light dressing room and everybody’s having fun,” Perry said. “It’s a special feeling in the room right now.”
Perry is available to play his next game in Anaheim on March 22 versus the Detroit Red Wings.