Elliotte Friedman Provides The Latest Update On Corey Perry

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Dawson McKenzie
December 14, 2023 (1:36 PM)

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Elliotte Friedman has just provided the latest update on Corey Perry and his contract termination.

Friedman Reveals that Union Might Want to File Grievance Even If Perry Doesn't Want to

Corey Perry still has some time to decide whether or not he wants to file a grievance with the NHLPA over his contract termination by the Chicago Blackhawks. Many have speculated whether or not Perry would file, but now Elliotte Friedman has given an update that the Players union might push to file even if he declines, as he revealed on 32 Thoughts.

I've written before that the NHLPA did not contest Patrik Berglund's contract termination from Buffalo in 2018 because the player wanted no part of it. Don't know what Corey Perry's decision will be, but there definitely is a push for the union to grieve even if Perry declines. I don't know exact details and have no desire to minimize anything, but there are strong feelings the NHLPA cannot allow this precedent.

Without the details of the incident, it is hard to know exactly how the Union is feeling about the termination, whether it was warranted or not. However, as Friedman reports, there is clearly a feeling from the Union that this shouldn't be the precedent.

Potential Options For the Union if There is No Grievance

Friedman also notes that there is a potential other option for the Union and the NHL if they could come to an agreement, and that is to make an exception for Perry's termination, effectively preventing his situation from becoming precedent for the future.

Another option would be a one-time «carve-out» that Perry's case/reason for termination will have no bearing on any other situation. (Of course, the league would need to agree.) That has happened before with things like contract timelines during COVID and what is allowed during summer on-ice workouts, but this would be much higher stakes.

This would be a unique case to carve out, so it is hard to imagine the League agreeing to this if they feel the termination was justified. Either way, without all the details, it is hard to make a judgment call.

As seen on Sportsnet - "32 Thoughts: What's next for the Blues after Craig Berube firing?"