The former Chicago Blackhawk is looking for a return to the NHL and the Pittsburgh Penguins could be a perfect fit.

PITTSBURGH – Over the past few weeks, a couple of key forwards in the Pittsburgh Penguins lineup have suffered their own injuries. To add to Matt Nieto already being out long-term, Reilly Smith will miss significant time with an upper-body injury, and Noel Acciari missed a game as a late scratch. Acciari returned after missing just one contest, but the Penguins are no strangers to a battered lineup.

With injuries always appearing as a common occurrence with the Penguins, and depth forward options not proving to be overly useful, it would make sense to see what’s available on the market. They already started feeling out said market by bringing in Jesse Puljujarvi on a free agent tryout, but a new veteran name may have popped on the radar.

Corey Perry recently met with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and was given the green light to open conversations with teams about a return. After having his contract terminated by the Chicago Blackhawks, there was massive speculation over the reason for the departure.

While the full story will likely never see the light of day, Perry released an apology and has been working with experts to better himself. Perry noted that those experts are to help his struggles with alcohol.

Now that Perry has been given the clear to resume action in the NHL, teams have already started lining up for his services. Perry is a 38-year-old winger who may be in the final days of his career, but he’s got a lot left to give.

Perry’s attributes of a gritty depth forward fit exactly what the Penguins need in their bottom six, and regardless of age would be a much more viable option than that of Radim Zohorna or Jansen Harkins.

Over his 19 NHL seasons, Perry has been known as a pest and a pain to play against. A nickname like ‘the Worm’ doesn’t come without reason.

Perry will mix it up to protect his teammates but also add a level of offense that could be a boost in the Penguins bottom six. In 1,273 games, Perry has scored 421 career goals and is nearing 900 total points. As a part of the Penguins’ depth there’s no reason why he wouldn’t be able to bring scoring to the table.

A Hart Trophy winner in 2011, Perry doesn’t want to his career end the way it looked like it might have in Chicago. Wherever he goes, he’ll bring a fire and a intensity that can help seal his spot in the Hall of Fame.

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