Corey Perry made an impression when he first joined the Oilers last season—he fought, chirped, and produced eight goals and five assists in 38 regular season games. However, when the postseason rolled around, he often seemed a step behind, despite having some bright spots, like when he finished off his captain’s pass after Connor McDavid deked out nearly every Florida Panther in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final.

Yet, Perry tallied only three points in 19 postseason games. With limited offensive contributions and a noticeable decline in his usual gamesmanship—such as his “Vintage Corey Perry” tactics of baiting opponents into taking penalties—it was somewhat puzzling that the Oilers prioritized signing him to a contract last summer that could earn him up to $1.4 million this season.

Nonetheless, three months ago, I wrote an article outlining a successful season for Perry, mentioning three things—playing in 60 or more games, scoring 12 or more goals, and continuing to be a leader on the Oilers. He’s on pace to exceed the first two, and for the last one, he’s consistently shown his willingness to do whatever it takes in key moments to help his team win. Additionally, according to Natural Stat Trick, Perry, who has recorded 14 points so far this season, ranks as follows among Oilers players at 5v5 this season:

-1st in Penalties Drawn (14 total) per 60 min.
-4th in Shots For per 60 min.
-4th in Shots Blocked per 60 min.
-5th in Hits per 60 min.
-7th in Scoring Chances For per 60 min.
-7th in Goals For per 60 min.
-7th in Expected Goals For per 60 min.

So far, he’s proving that bringing him back this season was the right move for the Oilers. What makes this even more impressive is that he’s accomplishing all of the above while averaging the second-fewest minutes among regulars on the team (11:20 TOI), showing that the Oilers are getting great value from his nearly $1.4 million AAV deal.

The Oilers are 6-2 in their last eight games, most of which were played on the road, and Perry’s contributions in limited minutes have been very noticeable during this past stretch. To start, he was a healthy scratch against the Seattle Kraken on Jan. 4, to bring in Derek Ryan to play in his home state of Washington, with zero complaints from Perry, showing he puts the team first, no matter the role.

That said, he had a big game against the Boston Bruins three nights later in his 11:31 minutes of ice time, the least amount of an Oiler. The 39-year-old’s legs aren’t as quick as they once were, but the offensive brilliance remains, as evidenced by his well-timed pass onto the tape of Adam Henrique who snuck into the slot to score the game’s opening goal, with Perry earning a primary assist.

Additionally, that gamesmanship that Oilers fans once grew to hate but now absolutely love is still very much intact with Perry. In the same game, Bruins forward Trent Frederic, trying to spark his lifeless team in the second period, saw Perry as a potential dance partner willing to drop the gloves.

At that moment, Perry didn’t initially oblige, knowing that his team was leading 1-0 and had all the momentum. But the gamesmanship grandmaster waited and waited until the Bruin became overaggressive, resulting in an extra two minutes in penalties for Frederic. It was then that Perry dropped the gloves, likely aware he wasn’t going to win the tilt with the 6-foot-3, 220-pounder. Still, it allowed the Oilers to get on the man advantage, where McDavid scored a beautiful breakaway goal on the ensuing power play.

On top of that, the Oilers dug themselves a hole against the Chicago Blackhawks on Jan. 11, falling behind 2-0 after the first period. But they clawed their way back, and the 2011 Hart Trophy winner was a key part of that comeback.

If you get Perry the puck within seven feet of the net, you still see glimpses of his former Hart Trophy-winning hands. He’s so cerebral and calculated around the net—when the Oilers were down by just one against the Blackhawks, he held onto the puck behind the net, waiting for the right play. He found Kapanen, received the puck back, and then Perry wristed it past Arvid Soderblom to tie the game. Overall, he played just over 11 minutes, the fourth fewest, in the Oilers’ come-from-behind 4-3 win.

Another standout play from Perry from the road trip came on Brett Kulak’s goal in the incredible come-from-behind win against the Colorado Avalanche on Jan. 16. With the Oilers down by two goals, the fourth line was gaining momentum, pinning the Avs in their zone.

Kulak caught the puck at the blue line, teed it up, and Perry planted himself in front of the net with a “If the puck hits me, it hits me” attitude, tensed up and provided a screen and took netminder Mackenzie Blackwood’s eyes off the puck as it sailed into the net. Additionally, NHL Edge data shows Kulak can shoot the puck at over 90 mph, and Perry stood there, fully prepared to take that kind of punishment from the frozen rubber. He didn’t get on the scoresheet two nights later against the Vancouver Canucks, but he got in their faces in front of the net a couple of times and he made a huge block with five minutes remaining, playing just over 11 minutes.

Overall, Perry has exceeded expectations so far this season and it’s clear he makes the most of every second he’s on the ice. That said, what does an outlook look like for him moving forward? The Peterborough, ON native has spent stretches on the last road trip playing on the fourth line alongside Kapanen, who has been a healthy scratch over the last two games. I feel the two complement each other well, and Kapanen should be inserted back into the lineup so he and Perry can get an extended look together.

Kapanen has proven to be very versatile, capable of playing anywhere up and down the lineup. However, when paired together on a line, he and Perry form a fairly effective duo, holding a 52.50% scoring chances-for edge at 5v5. They’re the perfect blend—Perry won’t be winning any fastest skater competitions anytime soon, but he’s still highly skilled. Kapanen, on the other hand, is very fast and consistently beats out the opposition in races to the puck, while also being able to make plays. Add in your centerman—whether it’s Noah Philp, or Mattias Janmark—and they form an unconventional fourth line. They can get gritty when needed, but they’ll also have the ability to score crucial goals off the cycle, like the one against the Blackhawks.

Overall, Perry is excelling in his limited minutes with the Oilers this season, contributing on the scoresheet and employing his usual Corey Perry-like tactics that result in goals for his team, as reflected by his +5 plus/minus rating over the last eight games. He’s an important part of the team now and he will be down the playoff stretch as well, but the big question remains—will he be able to carry that success into the postseason this year?