|
Perry Looking to Bounce Back |
|
|
|
|
|
Ek's note: A big thank you goes out to John who will be covering the Ducks this season for HockeyBuzz. John has experience with Anaheim as he covered the team for years for another site.
When it comes to what Corey Perry is known best for, the answer is quite simple. Since joining Anaheim in 2005, he has proven to be one of the better and most consistent goal scorers in the National Hockey League.
Unfortunately, the 2016-17 season was not a characteristic one for the Ducks' forward, scoring only 19 goals in 82 games. It was his lowest goal total since his first full season in 2006-07 when he lit the lamp 17 times (not including the 2012-13 lockout year where he scored 15).
Before last season, Perry could be counted on to contribute 30-plus goals a season. He has even surpassed those kinds of numbers twice in his career, scoring 43 in 2013-14 and 50 in 2010-11. So although last year definitely brought up some concerns, it is more than likely that Perry will experience a bounce-back year in 2017-18.
Now, the definition of "bounce-back year" is all relative in regards to Perry. He is 32-years-old, going into his 13th season in the NHL. He cannot remain the scoring machine he once was and this is normally around the age players start to experience a regression. However, going from scoring 33 and 34 goals the two seasons prior to last to only scoring 19 seems like quite the drastic drop-off. So although his production may start to decline, it is more likely that last year's scoring drought was more of a hiccup than a new reality.
Whenever a player produces less than expected, it is always an immediate cause for concern. It is terrifying to think that an organization can no longer count on an individual to contribute the way they once did.
Luckily for the Ducks, this is not yet the case for Corey Perry. Maybe his days of scoring 40 goals are behind him but he will still provide Anaheim with close to 30 goals this season.
Boston Bruins Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»