Settlement Achieved Between Corey Perry, NHLPA, and Blackhawks Over Grievance Dispute

Thursday, March 14th, 2024

The National Hockey League (NHL) and the NHL Players' Association have come to a confidential agreement regarding the situation of Corey Perry and his terminated contract with the Chicago Blackhawks, as reported by several sources on Thursday.

Although there was the potential for a grievance, it was never officially filed. Both the league and the Players' Association decided to prolong the period for filing a grievance past the 60-day limit dictated by their collective bargaining agreement.

Marty Walsh, the executive director of the NHLPA, mentioned on February 2nd during the All-Star Weekend in Toronto that they extended the deadline to ensure there was enough time to continue discussions.

The Chicago Blackhawks severed their contract with Perry in late November, citing violations of his standard player contract and team policies that aim to ensure a professional and safe working environment. Details regarding the specifics of the incident leading to the contract termination have not been disclosed by Perry or the Blackhawks’ general manager, Kyle Davidson.

Perry, at 38, expressed regret over his actions and acknowledged that he had started to seek help for his struggles with alcohol. He requested a meeting with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, which took place in January. Following this meeting, Perry returned to the NHL, signing with the Edmonton Oilers for the remainder of the season, less than two weeks later.

Bettman, when asked about how the situation was managed, did not criticize the Blackhawks' decision. He noted that sometimes it is best for a player to take some time off, emphasizing that the decision ultimately rests with the individual teams on what they find acceptable or not.

Perry, who has had a storied career including a Stanley Cup win with Anaheim in 2006 and three consecutive appearances in the Final from 2020 to 2022, has managed to score seven points in 20 games with Edmonton, which is more than he achieved while with Chicago.

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