The Edmonton Oilers signed forward Corey Perry to a one-year deal. The 38-year-old joins the club after having his previous contract terminated by Chicago earlier this season.
Corey Perry is returning to the NHL this year.
Perry agreed to a $775,000 contract plus performance bonuses with the Edmonton Oilers for the remainder of the 2023-24 campaign, the team announced Monday. The announcement came after multiple reports on Sunday, including The Fourth Period's David Pagnotta, The Athletic's Chris Johnston, TSN's Ryan Rishaug and THN Edmonton's Caleb Kerney.
The 38-year-old started the year with the Chicago Blackhawks, but his one-year, $4-million contract was terminated in November. The team said Perry engaged in “unacceptable” workplace conduct that violated internal policies "intended to promote professional and safe work environments."
After being terminated, Perry revealed his struggles with alcohol in a statement.
“I have started working with experts in the mental health and substance abuse fields to discuss my struggles with alcohol, and I will take whatever steps necessary to ensure this never happens again,” Perry said in the statement.
The news of the signing comes less than two weeks from reports that Perry met with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, although he didn't technically need to be cleared from the league to sign a new contract.
It’s not a total shocker that Perry has landed with Edmonton, and it goes beyond the fact that the Oilers are in the midst of a 13-game win streak.
Edmonton is no stranger to signing players who have worn out their welcome elsewhere. The Oilers signed Evander Kane at the tail-end of the 2021-22 season after the San Jose Sharks terminated his contract the season before.
"The thing about when you have a good team and good culture is you can bring players from the outside and drive them into that culture, and let them embrace it,” Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse said at the time of the Kane singing.
Assuming Perry can perform at, or close to, the level he’s been over the last few years, he could be a savvy add for Edmonton. Even in the twilight phase of his career, Perry — who has won a Stanley Cup, Hart Trophy, Rocket Richard and tallied 892 points in 1,273 career games — has become an effective bottom-six player.
From 2019-20 to 2021-22, Perry appeared in three straight Stanley Cup finals with the Dallas Stars, Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning — recording 30 points in 72 playoff games through that span.
Perry recorded nine points in 16 games with Chicago before being released.
For more on the signing, check out THN's Edmonton Oilers site.