The Edmonton Oilers and free-agent forward Corey Perry have agreed to a pro-rated contract for the remainder of the season. The contract is worth the league minimum of $775,000 against the cap.
David Pagnotta of TheFourthPeriod.com was the first to report on the agreement on Sunday.
Perry will wear No. 90 for the Oilers. It is not known when he will make his debut.
Perry, 38, has been without a team since the Blackhawks removed him from the club’s active roster prior to a 7-3 loss in Columbus on Nov. 22. After he went unclaimed on waivers and the contract was dissolved, the team released a statement saying it determined he “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.”
At the time, Chicago GM Kyle Davidson met with the team, and while he did not disclose the specific incident(s), sources indicated he made it very clear the organization could not tolerate or afford any misbehaviour in the aftermath of the Kyle Beach situation.
Perry released an apology, admitting his “behaviour was inappropriate and wrong,” adding he would work with experts to “discuss his struggles with alcohol.”
While Perry was never suspended by the NHL, he sought a meeting with commissioner Gary Bettman to get his blessing before entering into talks with another team. That meeting occurred last week and the blessing was granted.
Perry is a veteran of 1,273 NHL games and has scored 421 goals and 892 points. He is a former Hart Trophy winner, a two-time Olympic gold medallist with Canada and a Stanley Cup champion with the Anaheim Ducks.
Perry had four goals and nine points in 16 games with the Blackhawks before being waived.
