The NHL and the NHL Players’ Association have reached an undisclosed agreement to address Corey Perry’s issue with the Chicago Blackhawks after his contract was terminated, according to two people familiar with the decision.
The individuals talked with the AP on the condition of anonymity because the settlement is not being made public. A grievance was threatened but never filed, and the league and union agreed to extend the window for consideration beyond the 60-day period provided in the collective bargaining agreement.
“The timeline ran out, so we wanted to make sure we had time to continue forward,” NHLPA executive director Marty Walsh said at All-Star Weekend in Toronto on February 2.
Chicago parted ways with Perry in late November, claiming he breached his basic player contract and company standards “intended to promote professional and safe work environments.” Perry and general manager Kyle Davidson refused to go into depth about what caused the termination.
Perry, 38, apologized for his conduct and announced that he had began seeking treatment for alcoholism. He requested a meeting with Gary Bettman in January and spoke with the commissioner before returning to the NHL less than two weeks later, signing with the Edmonton Oilers for the remainder of the season.
When asked last month about how the Blackhawks handled the situation, Bettman had no complaints.
“He took a little time away,” Bettman added. “In the final analysis, clubs will decide what they’re comfortable with to a certain extent and what they’re not, and in this case the Blackhawks decided it was best if he was away from the team.”
Perry, a seasoned winger who won the Stanley Cup with Anaheim in 2006 and made the playoffs three years in a row from 2020 to 2022, has seven points in 20 games with Edmonton, which is already more than he had with Chicago.
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