Oilers' Corey Perry thrilled to return to Anaheim

It wasn't long ago that NHL veteran forward Corey Perry was routinely terrorizing the Edmonton Oilers as a member of the Anaheim Ducks, and his double-overtime winner in 2017 against Edmonton still makes fans cringe. 

However, circumstances have changed. Perry is now with the Oilers, having agreed to join the contenders from Alberta after his contract was terminated earlier this season by the Chicago Blackhawks. Tonight will mark just the third time that Perry has skated at Honda Center not wearing a Ducks sweater, and Perry's fondness for the organization with whom he won the Stanely Cup in 2007 remains high as ever. 

"It's a pretty special place," he said Friday morning. "It was home for 14 years and I can't say enough good things about this city, about the organization and everything they did for me coming into the league."

In the 988 career NHL games that Perry spent with the Ducks, he scored 372 goals and 404 assists for 776 points, while adding 36 goals and 53 assists in 118 games during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

His finest season took place in 2010-11 when he scored 50 goals and was awarded with both the Hart and Rocket Richard trophies. Prior to tonight's game, Perry took a moment on bench to reminisce about his time with the Ducks in a scene that was captured on social media: 

Perry has only gotten the chance to play in two games since joining the Oilers thanks to the All-Star break occurring not long after the signing became official, but he's already enjoying his time with his new team and teammates. 

"It's exciting," he said. "I've always wanted to be that type of player and continue to be that type of player to contribute wherever I can and step up and be inserted wherever [the coaches] feel fit. Hopefully I can take it and run with it and never look back."

He also had no shortage of good things to say about Leon Draisaitl, whom he routinely battled while a member of the Ducks, notably in the 2017 playoff series.

"He's a tremendous passer," Perry said. "The vision he has, you can't teach that. And playing with him, you've just got to figure out how to get open and create some space for him. I'm a guy that will go to the net and Kaner is a guy that can shoot the puck, so I think that the line could work."

Recommended articles:

• Corey Perry threatens the Blackhawks following contract termination
• Corey Perry busted stealing equipment from his new teammates.
• Oilers officially unveil Corey Perry's new linemates.
• Corey Perry's Oilers debut confirmed
• Ken Holland: “I’ve been hot after Corey” Perry for years