Looking Back on How Corey Perry’s NHL Career Almost Ended

Back in December of 2023, there was a ton of news coming out of the NHL Board of Governors meetings. Among the items addressed with the media, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman had yet to decide whether Corey Perry would need to engage in a conversation with him for a potential return to his NHL career. Perry’s future was in question after an investigation into an alcohol-related incident while a member of the Chicago Blackhawks.

Bettman expressed his comfort with the results of the investigation conducted by the Blackhawks into Perry’s situation. The league had found no issues with the Blackhawks choosing to terminate his contract. Still, the optics of how Perry was removed made it unclear if any other teams would want to take on that perceived baggage.

Bettman says he is comfortable with results of Blackhawks investigation into Corey Perry, has not determined if the player will need to have a conversation/hearing with him to return

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) December 5, 2023

The Blackhawks’ interim general manager, Kyle Davidson, addressed the matter, emphasizing it was a team matter. Specifics were sketchy. Perry, in a statement of his own, expressed sincere apologies to the entire Chicago organization, including ownership, management, coaches, trainers, employees, teammates, fans, and family. He acknowledged his embarrassment and expressed regret for letting everyone down. In the end, no one ever provided a full explanation as to what had happened. Some wondered if the Blackhawks had used the incident to dump his salary and cap hit.

Perry Did Come Back to the NHL

It didn’t take long to find out that a couple of teams had shown interest if Perry was cleared to return. Among them was the Edmonton Oilers. First, however, Perry was to seek treatment as part of the NHL’s process to approve him. That also gave time for a reported investigation by the NHL Players’ Association (NHLPA) to look into the Blackhawks’ decision to terminate Perry’s contract. Larry Brooks reported that the NHLPA was actively reviewing the matter within the 60-day window to file a grievance.

Chris Johnston reported something interesting in an article for The Athletic. He noted that, while not yet cleared, Corey Perry could possibly owe the Blackhawks money. He wrote:

Perry has 60 days to decide if he wants to file a grievance via the NHL Players’ Association. The matter remains under review, according to a union spokesman. Should he elect to go that route, it would be an exercise in preserving his earning power. Perry is entitled to keep approximately $1 million of his $4 million salary after spending roughly 25 percent of the season on the Blackhawks roster prior to having his contract terminated, which means he technically owes money back to the organization because he received a $2 million signing bonus over the summer.

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The uncertainty surrounding Corey Perry’s potential return wasn’t a story for long. In March of 2024, the Blackhawks and Perry reached an undisclosed agreement. Meanwhile, the Oilers did sign him and he became an important depth player for them as they went on a run to the Stanley Cup Final.

It was the third time he’d been there in as many years, unfortunately losing in all three appearances. The Oilers liked what he contributed and re-signed him in the summer. The hope was that he’d help them make another run.

Perry has been a regular in the Oilers lineup this season, playing a key role as a physical depth forward while Evander Kane is out. Perry is aging and has definitely slowed, but there is still a solid player there. The Oilers just need to find a way to dig themselves out of an early hole this season.

Perry has two goals and one assist this season in 13 games.

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