Yesterday, WILD rumor started circulating that Chicago Blackhawks forward Corey Perry was on leave from the team for hooking up with Connor Bedard’s mom on the annual Blackhawks Moms Trip.
Insane… I know.
The former Hart Memorial Trophy winner disappeared from the team, after being a healthy scratch in Columbus last week. The team called it an “organizational decision” and said that he would be away from the team for the “foreseeable future.” However Perry’s agent said that he would be be stepping away to handle “personal matters.” Fans have been speculating ever since, and you know what happens when fans speculate? Crazy rumors…
With 18-year-old Connor being the most promising young star in the game, a generational talent not unlike Sidney Crosby or Connor McDavid, the rumor sent the “Hockey Twitter” into an absolute hurricane of insane (and admittedly hilarious) conversation. And while we don’t know what Corey Perry did, the mom rumor was funny because it was so wildly untrue.
Flash forward to today, the Blackhawks have revealed that they ARE terminating Perry’s contract immediately (if/when he clears waivers), and cite his “unacceptable conduct” as the reason why.
They released the following statement, with GM Kyle Davidson set to address the media later this afternoon:
“After an internal investigation, the Chicago Blackhawks have determined that that Corey Perry has 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.
As such, Corey Perry has been places on unconditional waivers. In the event that Mr. Perry clears waivers, we intend to terminate his contract, effective immediately.”
Wait… did he? No way… Conduct unbecumming? But did he?
No people, “Scorey Perry” did not f*ck Connor Bedard’s mom…
Honestly, the last thing Connor Bedard and the Blackhawks need right now is this kind of distraction when the poor kid has had nothing but a media circus around him since the day he was drafted. Not to mention, he has zero talent around him, Taylor Hall out for the year, and one of the only veteran players on the team (Corey) just got cut.
I’m not sure what the “conduct” was, and I don’t want to speculate but I have some ideas. Regardless, I hope Corey can get it figured out and wish him nothing but the best. I said in the article I wrote about this situation yesterday that Corey Perry was the kind of player you always hated… until he was on your team. This changes that.
But here’s the real kicker… the Blackhawks released a statement like this to try and combat the wild rumors, and did quite the opposite… by being vague and mysterious (and placing him on waivers), they threw more gas on the raging fire of speculation. So rather than knowing what happened (and like I said yesterday, maybe it’s not for us to know), Twitter is now doubling down on the rumor instead of putting it to bed. Way to go Blackhawks…
Exhibit A:
I hate it here…. leave our golden boy alone. And not to mention, our former hero and 3-time Stanley Cup champ, Patrick Kane, just signed a one-year deal with the Detroit Red Wings… throw a little salt in the wound, eh bud?
At least the Bears won yesterday. Then again, I don’t even know if that was a good thing…
