EDMONTON — Corey Perry says he’s changed since the Chicago Blackhawks terminated his contract.
The 38-year-old forward practiced with the Edmonton Oilers on Monday after signing a one-year, $775,000 contract and hopes to be in the lineup when the Oilers host the Nashville Predators at Rogers Place on Saturday.
“Over the last two months, I’ve really had a chance to reflect and get the help and take full responsibility for what happened in Chicago and try to better myself,” Perry said. “Those are the things I’ve been working on. I’ve been working with people in the mental health field and in different fields. It’s been a long time to get back to this spot, to be back on the ice with players in the NHL, and I have to thank my family and my friends and all the support I’ve gotten, the support from my counselors, and just try to better myself each and every day.”
The Blackhawks announced in a statement Nov. 28 that they intended to terminate Perry’s contract after an internal investigation determined he had “engaged in conduct that is unacceptable and in violation of both the terms of his standard player’s contract and the Blackhawks’ internal policies intended to promote professional and safe work environments.”
Perry, in his 19th NHL season, became an unrestricted free agent after clearing waivers. He was first removed from Chicago’s lineup against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Nov. 22, a 7-3 loss, which was termed an “organizational decision” at the time by Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson.
On Nov. 30, Perry announced he was seeking treatment for mental health issues and his struggles with alcohol. He had nine points (four goals, five assists) in 16 games for Chicago, which acquired him in a trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning on June 29 for a seventh-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft and signed him to a one-year, $4 million contract the next day.
“From where I was two months ago to where I am today, I think it’s been a world of difference the help I’ve gotten and where I’ve come from,” Perry said. “On the hockey side, I’m excited to be here. This is a passionate fan base, it’s an exciting town, an exciting time for the Oilers organization. You look around that room, you’ve got some pretty tremendous players in Connor (McDavid), Leon (Draisaitl), Darnell (Nurse), and the list just keeps going on.”
The Oilers (26-15-1) have won 13 consecutive games and play the Blue Jackets in Edmonton on Tuesday (9 p.m. ET; TVAS, SNW, BSOH). They defeated the Calgary Flames 3-1 at Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary on Saturday to set a new NHL record for the longest winning streak by a Canada-based team, breaking the previous mark of 12 by the 1967-68 Montreal Canadiens. They’re third in the Pacific Division, seven points behind the second-place Vegas Golden Knights.
“I do want to say there were some other suitors out there that were great options and I want to thank them, but it all kept coming back here,” Perry said. “When you have a 6-year-old kid and you have Connor McDavid on the team, you kind of follow the Edmonton Oilers. This team is going in the right direction, not just because they’ve won 13 games in a row, but you can see where they’re going and their mindset and the vision they have, they want to win a Stanley Cup here.”
Edmonton is on pace to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the fifth consecutive season. It lost the 2023 Western Conference Second Round in six games to Vegas and was swept by the Colorado Avalanche in the best-of-7 Western Conference Final in 2022.
“You look at the pieces in that dressing room and there are guys in there that can play this game and play it well,” Perry said. “When you really get down to it, there’s a team in here that wants to win. When I talked to Connor before coming here and signing, he mentioned all the great things that dressing room had and it spoke volumes for me coming here.”
Ken Holland said he has been after Perry from the day he was named Oilers general manager May 7, 2019. He is in the last of a five-year contract.
“My first year here as a manager of the Oilers, I went after Corey hard and unfortunately, he made the decision to go to [the Dallas Stars],” Holland said. “So I’ve kind of been hot after Corey the last few years. I think he’s the type of player that every team wants on their team. He has an incredible winning pedigree.”
