Corey Perry on if Game 7 will be his final NHL game.
Corey Perry addresses rumors of his potential retirement after Game 7 on Monday.
The Edmonton Oilers will look to achieve the ultimate goal on Monday when they face the Florida Panthers in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final and it could very well be the last opportunity many of their players get at capturing a Stanley Cup championship during the course of their National Hockey League career. That is especially true when it comes to the veteran players on each roster, with players like 36 year old Florida Panthers forward Kyle Okposo and 39 year old Edmonton Oilers forward Corey Perry arguably being the best example of that for each team.
We've heard throughout the playoffs how much it means to the players in each locker room to be able to achieve the ultimate goal for the players in their respective locker rooms that may never get another chance, but not so much from those players themselves.
On Sunday, Oilers forward Corey Perry faced some difficult questions about his future following the conclusion of Game 7 on Monday night. Perry was asked if, win or lose, there was a possibility that Game 7 would be the final game of his NHL career. Perry being Perry, he laughed at the notion that he would be retiring at the end of the season, indicating instead that he has no intention of retiring any time in the near future.
"Uh, no. I've got more in me. I've got lots more in me: five more years," said Perry confidently.
When Perry's response elicited a laugh from the journalists in the room around him, he doubled down on his comments.
"What's so funny? I feel like I'm 25!" said Perry.
That being said the enormity of the moment isn't lost on Perry, who recognizes that even the young players in the Oilers locker room may never get another chance like this.
"This could be half these guys last chance at a Stanley Cup, it could be their last time in the Stanley Cup Final," said Perry. "It took me 12 years to get back, those things don't come around each and every day."
Perry believes that mindset is an important one for each and every player in the Oilers locker room to have, including Oilers star forward Connor McDavid.
"I mean I'm not inside his head but you kind of have to think that way," admitted Perry. "This could be your only chance."
