The Chicago Blackhawks got rid of Corey Perry last November after he violated team policies.
Now the 39-year-old winger is set to come back to the NHL for at least one more year with Edmonton after re-signing as a UFA with the Oilers this week.
Corey Perry stirs things up against Dallas.
It's a one-year contract, with a $1.15 million salary plus $250,000 in performance bonuses based on how many games Perry plays. It's not expected that he'd skate every night as he enters his 20th NHL season as a bottom-6 forward.
It will be interesting to see if Perry suits up against the Blackhawks. Chicago plays its third game of the season at Edmonton on Oct. 12. The Oilers visit the United Center twice, on Jan. 11 and Feb. 5, 2025.
Five of Perry's last six contracts have been for just one year. He's played for Dallas, Tampa Bay, Montréal, Chicago and Edmonton in the span, starting in 2019.
By far, the most generous deal was the one-year, $4 million pact Perry got from the Blackhawks and general manager Kyle Davidson last summer after the winger came highly-recommended by coach Luke Richardson for his leadership and mentorship value.
Annoys Opponents On The Ice
Perry led the NHL with 50 goals in 2010-11 with Anaheim. At this stage of his career, he's valued more for being an irritating on-ice pest than producing points.
Minus men. Philipp Kurashev (center) and Connor Bedard (right). On the left is Corey Perry, who was cut by the Blackhawks on Nov. 28 for violating team policies.
USA Today Network.
Perry played only 16 games with Chicago, posting four goals and nine points, before he was abruptly scratched from the lineup before a game in Columbus on Nov. 22, 2023. On Nov. 28, Davidson emotionally announced the forward had been released for an HR matter after an internal investigation. Law enforcement was not involved.
Neither the Blackhawks or Perry said exactly when happened. But it became clear the forward had upset at least one other person at an off-ice function. Perry later apologized in a written statement and said he was seeking support for better managing his use of alcohol.
If for no other reason than burnishing his image, Perry also met with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. While Bettman supported the Blackhawks decision to cut ties with Perry, the forward was never banned or disciplined by the league.
Ken Holland, Oilers Wanted Forward
It was no secret former Oilers GM Ken Holland wanted to add Perry, and signed him to a pro-rated $1.1 million AAV contract on Jan. 22, 2024. Perry debuted with Edmonton five days later and totaled eight goals and 13 assists in 38 regular season games. He wasn't very fast, but still had hands and touch around the net — and some predictable gamesmanship.
Corey Perry points to people he knows in the crowd after scoring a goal in the Blackhawks 4-1 win at Toronto on Oct. 16. USA Today Network
Perry managed just a goal and three points in 19 playoffs games and averaged 10:46 of ice time. He had been scratched in the final two games of Edmonton's seven-game win over Vancouver in Round 2 and then again in the Western Conference Final versus Dallas, before returning for six of seven games in the Stanley Cup Final against Florida.
Before Game 7 of the 2024 Cup Final at Florida, Perry was asked by reporters if he was ready to retire.
"Uh, no," Perry said. "I've got more in me. I've got lots more in me — five more years. What's so funny? I feel like I'm 25.
"I'm going to keep playing until they cut my skates off," Perry added. "I want to continue to play. I love the game, I love being around the room. It's just the camaraderie that you have and that bond you have with guys in this sport."
The Hart Trophy winner as NHL MVP in 2011, Perry has put up 429 goals, 476 assists and 905 points in 1,311 games over 19 seasons. He was drafted by Anaheim in 2003, where he made his NHL debut in 2005, and won his only Stanley Cup in 2007.
Perry also may have bills to pay.
From Peterborough, Ontario, Perry has long lived in London where he played junior hockey with the OHL Knights.
In June 2019, the London Free Press reported Perry paid $7.25 million for a home on the north side of the southwest Ontario city. The newspaper suggested that might have been a record price at the time for a single-family home in London.
