Share this Story: Corey Perry will continue his chase for a second Stanley Cup in Tampa
Corey Perry will continue his chase for a second Stanley Cup in Tampa
Veteran winger says the Lightning's winning culture and a two-year contract offer were the deciding factors in him leaving the Canadiens.
Stu Cowan • Montreal Gazette
Jul 30, 2021 • July 30, 2021 • 4 minute read • 8 Comments
"It was special and it's going to rank up there for me in my career just as one of the top things I've ever done," Corey Perry said about getting the oportunity to play for the Canadiens, the team he grew up cheering for. Photo by John Mahoney /Montreal Gazette
If you can't beat them, join them.
After losing to Tampa Bay in the Stanley Cup final in each of the last two seasons, Corey Perry decided to sign a two-year, US$2-million contract with the Lightning on Thursday as a free agent.
Corey Perry will continue his chase for a second Stanley Cup in Tampa Back to video
Perry was with the Canadiens this year when they lost to the Lightning in the Cup final after losing to them as a member of the Dallas Stars last year.
Last season, the 36-year-old right-winger posted 9-12-21 totals in 49 regular-season games with the Canadiens and added 4-6-10 totals in 22 playoff games. Perry earned US$750,000 with the Canadiens after signing a one-year contract as a free agent and became a valuable player to the team both on the ice and off the ice as a leader.
Perry said the Lightning's winning culture and a two-year contract offer were the deciding factors in him leaving Montreal.
"At the end of the day, where I am in my career I want to win, I want to be a part of that and I'm looking forward to it," he said during a Zoom conference Friday. "There was some teams we talked to and, obviously, Montreal was a big part of that. Tampa came along … it's an exciting time for my family, for myself personally to go down there and help them try to win again."
Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin was hoping to re-sign Perry, who thanked the organization for the opportunity to play in Montreal.
"Marc Bergevin, the organization — Geoff Molson, the owner — they gave me a chance last season," Perry said. "I knew coming into that season I'd be starting on the taxi squad and having to prove myself and they gave me that opportunity. So I have to say thank you to them and I really appreciate everything they did for me.
"Montreal was my favourite team growing up, so to put on that jersey, to step into the Bell Centre — unfortunate there was no fans for the season — but having that experience and seeing the fans, how passionate they really are inside and outside (the Bell Centre)," Perry added. "It was special and it's going to rank up there for me in my career just as one of the top things I've ever done. You grow up watching the Montreal Canadiens … to put that jersey on, to step in the arena in the Bell Centre, to sit in that dressing room, look up and see the names that have gone through that dressing room and played for that team, it's pretty special."
Perry is a member of the Triple Gold Club, winning gold medals with Canada at the 2010 and 2014 Olympics, at the 2016 IIHF World Championship and the Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007. Perry and Scott Niedermayer are the only two members of the Triple Gold Club who have also won at the world junior championship, the Memorial Cup and the World Cup of Hockey.
Perry was only 22 when he won the Stanley Cup with the Ducks and he wants to experience that feeling again before hanging up his skates.
"Sometimes when you win it so young you take it for granted," he said. "I said that this year in Montreal … I said when we were down 3-1 to Toronto (in the first round of the playoffs) is you never know if you're going to get this chance again. You might not make the playoffs ever again. You never know where this can go and we used that as motivation. When you're 22 years old and you get your name on the Cup you have no idea. You take it's going to happen every single season. But it took me 14 years to get back (to the Cup final). You have to come into the season, you have to do everything you can possible to put yourself in the right position. We're looking to do that again in Tampa."
With the Lightning, Perry will be reunited with Pat Maroon, who was his teammate in Anaheim after the Ducks had won the Stanley Cup. Maroon has been on the Cup-winning team in each of the last three seasons, winning in 2019 with the St. Louis Blues and the last two years with the Lightning.
"He's a very close friend of mine," Perry said. "To get to lace them up again with him is going to be exciting and I'm looking forward to it. But there's a lot of good players on that team … you have stars and guys that are going to be stars. So I'm just looking forward to getting to know everybody, getting on the ice with everybody and being a part of it and see where we can go with this."
When asked if it will be awkward now being on the team he lost to in each of the last two Cup finals, Perry said: "It is what it is. They're a very good team and they beat us the last two years in Dallas and Montreal. But once you get there — I've talked to a few guys already — you say your congratulations and then you move on. There's not much else you can do. I'm trying to help the Tampa Bay Lightning win another Stanley Cup."
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