Two days after Chicago Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson spoke about the contract termination of Corey Perry, it was finally the player’s turn to speak.
In a statement released publicly, Perry apologized for his “inappropriate and wrong” behavior and says that he will be seeking professional help in the mental health and substance abuse fields.
He also re-emphasized that the situation had nothing to do with any other players’ families.
On Tuesday, the Blackhawks waived Perry with the intention to terminate his contract for conduct they deemed “unacceptable,” and which they believe violated the terms of his contract and organizational policies “intended to promote professional and safe work environments.” Davidson further clarified that the situation was a “workplace matter”, and that the organization conducted an internal investigation immediately when they learned of a possible misconduct by Perry.
Davidson stated: “We went through the process as quickly as we could in order to run a responsible investigation.”
Perry’s statement does not provide any new specific information about the event that triggered the investigation outside the allusion that alcohol or a similar substance may have been involved.
“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. I hope to regain the trust and respect of everyone who has believed in me throughout my career.”
The NHL and NHLPA were made aware of the incident and the investigation, and the NHLPA is reportedly looking into whether to file a grievance over Perry’s contract termination.