Blackhawks’ Corey Perry to Be Absent for Foreseeable Future, Says GM Kyle Davidson

Chicago Blackhawks forward Corey Perry has been absent from the team since Nov. 19 due to an “organizational decision,” with no timetable for his return, according to general manager Kyle Davidson, while Perry’s agent states that he has stepped away to attend to personal matters.

‣ Chicago Blackhawks forward Corey Perry has not played since Nov. 19 and has been away from the team for an undisclosed reason.
‣ General manager Kyle Davidson said the decision for Perry’s absence came from the team, not Perry himself, but did not provide a timeline for his return.
‣ Perry’s agent, Pat Morris, released a statement saying Perry stepped away from the team to attend to personal matters, contradicting Davidson’s assertion that the decision was made by the Blackhawks.

Corey Perry, a forward for the Chicago Blackhawks, hasn’t been on the ice since November 19. He hasn’t been seen around the team recently either. The reason for Perry’s absence remains a mystery. Blackhawks’ general manager, Kyle Davidson, addressed the situation during a press conference on Saturday.

Perry was a healthy scratch for the Blackhawks’ game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on November 22. The team chalked it up to an “organizational decision.” The day after, Perry was missing from practice. He’s been away from the team since then.

Davidson spoke to the media on Saturday. He stated there’s no set date for Perry to return to the Blackhawks. However, he offered few details beyond that. “There’s no update on that end,” Davidson said. “He’s away from the team and will remain so for the foreseeable future. I’m unable to provide any further update on that front.”

Davidson did add a little more to the story. He said the decision to keep Perry away came from the team, not Perry. “It’s been a team decision, so far, to hold him out,” Davidson confirmed. “It is coming from the organization’s end, yes.” When questioned if Perry’s absence was due to trade-related reasons, Davidson’s response was cryptic.

“I think to start ruling anything out, I just think it is irresponsible, so I’m just not gonna comment on any possible outcome,” Davidson said. Shortly after the press conference, Perry’s agent, Pat Morris, released a statement. It seemed to contradict Davidson’s claim that the Blackhawks made the decision. “Corey Perry has stepped away from the Chicago Blackhawks to attend to personal matters,” Morris stated. “Corey and his family appreciate privacy at this time.”

Perry signed a one-year contract with the Blackhawks this past offseason. He had spent the previous two seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Stanley Cup champion brought over 1,200 games of NHL experience to the young Chicago roster. This season, Perry has contributed four goals and five assists in 15 games.