Corey Perry Is Now Just One Game Away From Miraculously Losing His 4th Stanley Cup Final In 5 Years With 4 Different Teams
Dave Sandford. Getty Images.The numbers would suggest that it's nearly impossible. Think about how many players since the 1967 expansion have ever played in 4 Stanley Cup Finals in 5 seasons to begin with. The Canadiens won 4 in a row from '76 to '79. The Islanders won 4 in a row from '80 to '83. The Oilers won 4 in 5 years from '84-'88.
Now think about how many players since the 1967 expansion have ever played in 4 Stanley Cup Finals in 5 seasons as a member of 4 different teams. I'd imagine that number is 0. Which already makes Corey Perry's situation unlikely enough. But to lose all 4 of those Finals?
Gretzky. Lemieux. Gordie Howe. Bobby Orr. Nail Yakupov.
Think about how many legends have come and gone throughout the history of this league. Not a single one of them has even sniffed what Corey Perry has been able to accomplish over the past half decade here. A Final loss with Dallas in 2020 at the hands of Tampa Bay. A Final loss with Montreal in 2021 at the hands of Tampa Bay again. A Final loss with Tampa Bay in 2022 at the hands of Colorado. And now, at last, he's just 60 minutes away from a Final loss with Edmonton at the hands of Florida. If history has taught us anything, you can expect The Worm to sign for the league minimum with Florida next year as we get a rematch of the '96 Final with Colorado sweeping the Panthers.
Sidenote: How much do you think McDavid wants to strangle Ken Holland right now for picking up Corey Perry after he was waived by Chicago? He had to know about the curse. He had to know this was never going to end with a ring. Still went ahead and picked him up anyway. Such a middle finger to the best player on the planet.