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Corey Perry is not focused on hockey right now.
As the veteran forward made clear in a statement released after his contract was terminated by the Chicago Blackhawks for physical violations, Perry is prioritizing his family and his health during this period, which marks the first time he has faced any action during an NHL season. Not employed by the team. 2004.
Perry wrote in a statement released Thursday, “I have begun working with experts in the mental health and substance abuse fields to discuss my struggle with alcohol and do whatever is necessary to ensure that If there are steps, she will take them.” “I hope to regain the trust and respect of everyone who has believed in me.”
The specific details of what caused Chicago to sever ties with its alternate captain are unknown. Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson called it a “workplace matter” and indicated it did not involve criminal activity.
His organization is sensitive to any incidents involving staff misconduct as it failed to take action in 2010 after former player Kyle Beach alleged that coach Brad Aldridge had sexually assaulted him. After details of that situation emerged in 2021, the Blackhawks paid a $2 million fine to the NHL for “inadequate internal procedures and an inadequate and untimely response” and also reached a confidential settlement with Beech.
Still, a contract termination initiated with Perry is rare in the NHL – especially since it involves a former Hart Trophy winner who has a borderline case to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
In recent years, NHL clubs have typically carried out contract terminations in cases involving criminal charges (Slava Voynov, Mike Richards) or for lesser offenses involving lower-level players (Brandon Leipsic, Jake Dotchin).
Perry’s case appears to fall somewhere in between those two poles, at least based on how Davidson handled the situation during an emotional media availability in Chicago on Tuesday night.
Even at the age of 38, Perry was a vital player for the Blackhawks. He was wearing a letter, being paid $4 million to serve as a mentor in a young dressing room and sitting as the team’s third-leading point producer when the information reached management last week. , causing him to be removed from the lineup when the investigation began.
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As of Tuesday, Perry was placed on unconditional waivers for the purpose of contract termination. This was a surprising turn of events with potential consequences extending far beyond the current situation.
precedent
There is no intention of disrespect to anyone affected by Perry’s actions and no judgment is given on the circumstances that led him to this point as they are largely unknown, it is worth taking a step back to understand that What constitutes reasonable grounds for terminating an NHL contract.
The standard is exceptionally high.
All deals are intended to be fully guaranteed.
And yet the terms of a standard player contract do not provide full clarity on what constitutes a material breach because Section 2(e) requires a player “to conduct himself on and off the rink in accordance with the highest standards of integrity, ethics, and conduct.” states “, fair play and sportsmanship, and generally refraining from conduct detrimental to the best interests of the club, the league or professional hockey, Paragraph 4 in the SPC provides that a team shall have appropriate rules governing player conduct and conditioning. Can establish rules. , But if the player violates those rules, the punishment is limited to a “reasonable fine” or suspension from the team.
The standards for violations worthy of contract termination are not clearly stated.
We can only rely on history as a guide, and the examples are varied: everything from the Tampa Bay Lightning taking steps to terminate Dotchin’s contract because he got into bad shape in training camp in 2019 , everything from the Washington Capitals terminating Leipsic’s deal after private conversations became public in 2020, where he discussed drugs, women, and fellow NHL players and their significant others, the San Jose Sharks agreed to renew Evander Kane’s contract through 2022 Terminated because he presented a forged vaccination card and failed to report.
The Kings terminated Richards’ contract in 2015 after he was charged with trying to cross the border with controlled substances – although they ultimately agreed to pay the player a portion of his remaining salary and a negotiated cap charge through 2032. Impressed with. Of resolution arising from a complaint.
And Los Angeles terminated Voynov’s contract after two years after he was charged with domestic assault.
In Perry’s case, the Blackhawks said in a statement this week that he “engaged in conduct that is unacceptable, and in violation of both the terms of his standard player contract and the Blackhawks’ internal policies intended to promote a professional and safe work environment.” is a violation.”
Exactly where the line should be drawn is not entirely clear.
For example, when video surfaced in 2019 of Capitals forward Evgeny Kuznetsov appearing to have cocaine placed on a table in front of him, he was suspended three games by the team for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Evaluate the individual actions given here as best you can. The point is that an NHL player who is found to have conducted himself in an unprofessional manner does not always have his contract voided.
potential complaint
Perry has 60 days to decide if he wants to file a grievance through the NHL Players’ Association. According to a spokesperson of the union, the matter is still under review.
Should he choose 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 approximately 25 percent of the season on the Blackhawks’ roster before his contract expired, meaning he technically owes the organization money back because He received a $2 million signing bonus. during summer.
However, according to Article 17 of the NHL’s CBA, he has the right to take his case to an independent arbitrator.
Should this happen, Perry would be in contention to receive the full amount of salary remaining on his contract in 2023–24. There is no circumstance where he can be reinstated to the Blackhawks roster and resume playing there in the short term.
Filing a complaint also opens the possibility of reaching a negotiated resolution, as Dotchin and Richards did. Kane also received money from the Sharks to help make up the difference between the amount he was originally owed and the amount he received on the contract he signed as a free agent in Edmonton.
Future
Perry is already an unrestricted free agent and has all the rights afforded to any player at that position.
He is still eligible to sign with another NHL team. And he will need to sign somewhere by the March 8 trade deadline to be able to be ready for the upcoming playoffs.
So far there’s no indication that a comeback is remotely a priority for Perry. His statement focused solely on addressing the remorse he felt for the harm caused by his actions and revealing the need to begin treatment to struggle with alcoholism.
“I want to sincerely apologize to the entire Chicago Blackhawks organization, including ownership, management, coaches, trainers, staff, and my teammates,” Perry wrote. “I would also like to apologize to my fans and my family. I am embarrassed and I have let you all down.
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Rival teams currently have no further information on what led to Perry’s contract termination, while the general public is expected to keep an eye on his situation. They will want to gain a better understanding of the circumstances surrounding his exit from Chicago to determine if he might ever be in a position to resume his hockey career, and will ultimately need to see if that is the case. Given time for where he is personally. Treatment.
There may still be a path for Perry to return to the NHL.
only time will tell.
(Photo: Klaus Anderson/Getty Images)
