Oilers Could Be Looking at Maple Leafs UFA to Replace Corey Perry

As we soon approach the month of August, former Toronto Maple Leafs forward Max Pacioretty is one of several intriguing free agents still on the market looking for a new home heading into the 2025-26 season.

While Toronto may no longer be a viable destination for the 36-year-old after how GM Brad Treliving reconstructed the roster this summer, there's one team out west that could be the ideal fit in the Edmonton Oilers.

Edmonton Journal reporter David Staples believes that Pacioretty could be the perfect replacement for another aging veteran in Corey Perry, who found greener pastures with the Los Angeles Kings in free agency.

Staples added that due to the Oilers having lost power forwards Evander Kane and Dylan Holloway in the past 2 seasons as well as Warren Foegele, Connor Brown, and Viktor Arvidsson, a player of Pacioretty's ilk makes perfect sense for what Edmonton needs at the moment.

Pacioretty proved well enough during the post-season that he still has some juice left after several injury-riddled campaigns derailed his career. He added 3 goals and 8 points in 11 playoff games, including the pivotal game-winning goal in Game 6 against Ottawa to clinch the series.

Staples also believes Pacioretty would be a perfect fit because of his underlying numbers. Going back to the last 2 post-seasons, Pacioretty ranks 2nd amongst all forwards where goals, assists, and hits per 60 even strength minutes are equally weighed.

He only trails current Oiler forward Vasily Podkolzin and is ahead of players like Dakota Joshua, Sam Bennett, and Zach Hyman among so many others, including Perry who surprisingly ranks 152nd league-wide.

At this juncture of the off-season, it remains to be seen if a deal can be negotiated. However, considering the impact that Perry had with the Oilers over the last few seasons, it's a move that would make sense for all involved as they can both search for their elusive Stanley Cup together.