Players' Union taking legal action on behalf of Corey Perry

After just 16 games earlier this season, Corey Perry had his contract terminated by the Chicago Blackhawks for an off-ice event that is still not public knowledge. Perry was deeply investigated by the NHL and deemed fit to return to hockey, and was then signed by the Oilers. Still, the NHL Players' Association is caught up on Perry's situation in Chicago.

According to reports from Chris Johnston and Elliotte Friedman, the Players' Union is planning to file a grievance against Perry's contract termination. The league has extended the deadline for the Union to make the claim, as the commissioner seems to support the decision to file the grievance.


By all accounts, whatever Perry did in Chicago wasn't a good thing - but it should not have been enough to be ground for contract termination and a ban from the league. For these reasons, the Players' Union can't allow this to stand as a precedent, and is defending players' rights by fighting this termination.


Perry himself has downplayed any importance of the grievance, and even showed reluctance to talk about it in general, but if the claim is successful he would be owed a significant chunk of his $4M contract from Chicago. For now however, Perry has made amends and sought help for his actions in Chicago, and is focused on contributing to a run at the Stanley Cup with the Edmonton Oilers.