The Chicago Blackhawks announced Tuesday that they had placed seasoned veteran Corey Perry on waivers due to what they deemed "unacceptable" conduct.
According to an internal investigation by the team, Perry had violated both his contract and organizational policies "intended to promote professional and safe work environments."
"In the event Mr. Perry clears waivers, we intend to terminate his contract effective immediately," the team said in a statement.
Although general manager Kyle Davidson did not delve into the specifics of the allegations, he clarified that the misconduct did not involve criminal behavior or extend to any teammates or their families.
"This has been a tough situation and I understand you wanted answers," said Davidson.
"It was important that we took all the necessary steps before sharing more. I hope you can understand that I may not be able to answer everything today. But I am going to be as open and honest as I can be given the situation and out of respect for those involved."
Davidson emphasized that both the NHL and the NHLPA were aware of the situation, characterizing it as a "team incident" and reaffirming that it was a collective decision by the team.
According to Davidson, the Blackhawks were initially notified of the allegations last Wednesday in Columbus, prompting them to immediately sideline Perry from the lineup against the Blue Jackets.
"You know what? I think we went through the process as quickly as we could in order to run a responsible investigation," he said.
When questioned about Perry's response to the decision, Davidson refrained from explaining the details of their discussion. However, he did confirm that he had informed the team earlier in the day about the Blackhawks' choice to place Perry on waivers. Davidson also assured that the players were unaware of any specifics regarding the incident.
Perry's NHL journey
In the offseason, the Blackhawks signed Perry with a one-year contract worth $4 million. Perry, a seasoned player who had spent the previous two seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning, concluded his tenure there with a record of 12 goals and 25 points in the final year.
This season, the 38-year-old has showcased his skills in 16 games, contributing four goals and nine points. As a seasoned veteran with 19 years of professional play, Perry's career spans 1,273 games, during which he achieved 421 goals and 471 assists.
His journey in the NHL also includes playing with the Anaheim Ducks, Dallas Stars and Montreal Canadiens. Perry clinched the Stanley Cup with the Ducks in 2007 and earned the prestigious Hart Trophy as the NHL MVP for the 2010-11 season.
Perry's last appearance with the Blackhawks was on November 19 in a 3-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres, where he concluded the game with zero points. This game marked the last played by the Blackhawks before Davidson revealed their awareness of the allegations.
Following this revelation, Perry took a leave of absence from the team, a move attributed to management, as informed by Davidson on Saturday. However, Perry's agent, Pat Morris, contradicted this narrative in a statement on the same day, asserting that it was Perry's decision to distance himself from the Blackhawks.
Since Perry's presumed final game with the club, the Blackhawks have participated in three matches, securing a lone victory in overtime against the Toronto Maple Leafs on November 24.