I used to be joyful when the Toronto Maple Leafs signed Wayne Simmonds throughout the offseason. I used to be even happier when Simmonds got here out of the gates smoking and scored 5 targets in a two-week time span between January 24 and February 5.
Then, and it was no fault of his personal, his season fell aside when he suffered a damaged wrist. After he returned after six weeks of therapeutic, Simmonds scored two targets and by no means regarded the identical. My guess is that Simmonds’ days in a Maple Leafs’ uniform are achieved. Although he may re-sign with the group, I’m pondering he received’t.
Related: Maple Leafs’ Spezza: If I Could Take Less Money I Would!
What If the Maple Leafs Had Signed Corey Perry Instead?
Given Maple Leafs’ basic supervisor Kyle Dubas’ offseason urge for food to achieve grit and create a group that was more durable to play in opposition to, in wanting again I’ve to surprise what might need occurred if the Maple Leafs had signed Corey Perry as an alternative of The Wayne Train. No blame on Simmonds, however is it an excessive amount of to suppose that the group would nonetheless be in the playoff race the place they might be enjoying the Vegas Golden Knights instead of the Canadiens?
What I do know is that the Maple Leafs missed a stable contributor once they didn’t signal Perry. Right now, he’s serving to his Montreal Canadiens’ group dangle robust in a 2-2 collection tie with the Vegas Golden Knights that was presupposed to be cake stroll for the Golden Knights. [And tonight it would be a 3-1 Canadiens’ series lead had the team not given the Golden Knights a single great scoring chance in overtime.]
The level is that Perry has scored three targets and eight factors in 15 video games this postseason. He’s enjoying the same – however very totally different – position than Jason Spezza performs with the group. He averages fourth-line minutes at about 13 per sport and causes a disturbance each time he’s on. He appears to be in the center of every little thing.
Corey Perry’s Similarities to Jason Spezza
Also much like Spezza, Perry has change into one in all the finest free-agent pickups of the offseason at the discount contract of $750,000. It’s Perry’s toughness and battling fashion of play that has been instrumental in serving to the Canadiens get to the place they’re in the playoffs.
In fact, if I have been the Canadiens I’d provide him one other contract for sure. There’s little question he’s earned each respect and one other contract someplace. NHL basic managers will need him as a UFA no matter occurs to Montreal’s Stanley Cup run.
The 36-year-old right-winger averaged 13:44 time on the ice throughout the 2020-21 common season. And, though Perry isn’t the participant he was with the Anaheim Ducks, he nonetheless can carry it – as he’s displaying throughout the postseason playoffs. He’s efficient. He’d have helped the Maple Leafs win.
His physique of labor in the playoffs has been stable this season, however it was additionally stable final season with the Dallas Stars. He can rating when the going will get robust. Furthermore, game-after-game he brings a bodily part to his play that teammates love and opponents hate. He’s annoyingly persistent. He appears to only hold hitting gamers on the different group.
Related: Maple Leafs Coaching Staff Could See Significant Changes Next Season
Would Perry Re-consider Toronto?
Last season, the phrase was that Perry had expressed curiosity in signing with the Maple throughout the offseason, however Dubas signed Simmonds as an alternative. As I say, there’s no blame on Simmonds for his season. Until the harm, he regarded each bit price the $1.5 million contract he signed for. But six weeks off after the wrist took the steam out of Simmonds’ sport.
After the Canadiens’ Stanley Cup run is over – win or lose, what occurs with Perry? Would he be keen to return to the capital metropolis of his residence province cheaply sufficient to signal on with the Maple Leafs? Given what Maple Leafs’ followers witnessed first-hand throughout the Canadiens-Maple Leafs’ playoff collection, I’m certain a number of them can be encouraging the group to attempt to signal him up.
You can’t damage for making an attempt.
