The Chicago Blackhawks have formally canceled forward Corey Perry’s contract. The incident, which shocked the hockey community on Tuesday, was termed as “disturbing” by the team’s general manager.
The situation that had many wondering over the past week was revealed by the team’s internal investigation and final conclusion.
The squad was the subject of several rumors in the days preceding the announcement due to Perry’s unexplained absence from practice, but officials refuted such reports as “wildly inaccurate.”
The matter was initially revealed when Perry was unexpectedly scratched from Wednesday’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, a 7-3 humiliating defeat at Nationwide Arena. He did not take part in warmups, but he did skate with the team in the morning.
It was a “organizational decision” to sit Perry, according to Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson, who confirmed this to reporters following the game. He was fit as a thumb.
Thanksgiving Thursday saw the Blackhawks resume practice, but Perry was not present. The team did not provide a reason for Perry’s absence.
Richardson made Perry’s absence from the starting lineup against the Toronto Maple Leafs known on Friday morning.
The organization didn’t discuss Perry’s situation until Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson hosted a media conference on Saturday morning.
“He’s away from the team and will remain so for the foreseeable future,” stated Davidson. “I’m unable to provide any further update on that front.”
Davidson politely declined to comment on specifics, saying he “understands” that there is conjecture about what’s happening. On one front, though, he did offer some clarification.
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“It’s been a team decision so far to hold him out and that’s all I’m able to provide,” Davidson stated. “It is coming from the organization’s end.”
Further details were then provided by the Blackhawks in a statement released on Tuesday, when they stated that Perry “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.”
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