Blackhawks finally get it right with handling of Corey Perry situation

When the Blackhawks initially scratched veteran forward Corey Perry from last Wednesday’s game in Columbus, the team simply labeled the move an “organizational decision.” After nearly a week without further explanation, rumors began to circulate on social media, and fans grew more and more frustrated. This was the same Chicago franchise that promised to be “more transparent” after the infamous scandal regarding Kyle Beach's allegations that surfaced in 2021. The Blackhawks turned around and handled another disciplinary matter in a similar fashion, refusing to release any further details to the public. The mini-saga seemed to reach its end when Perry’s contract was terminated by the Blackhawks on Tuesday afternoon. 

While GM Kyle Davidson and his franchise endured more than their fair share of complaints from fans, the team finally handled the situation the right way. Complete transparency wasn’t an option, as Perry’s privacy is more of a priority than the team keeping its previous promise. On the contrary, the Blackhawks seemed to have handled it as efficiently as they could. The team was notified of possible inappropriate behavior and immediately removed the player from the lineup and launched an investigation. Less than a week later, Perry’s contract was terminated.

Davidson defended the lack of transparency in a news conference Tuesday afternoon, telling reporters that while he understands that they wanted answers, the team found it important to “take all the necessary steps before sharing more.” He went on to condemn the perpetrators of rumors about the situation, saying that anything about it involving players or families is “wildly inaccurate and frankly disgusting.”

While Davidson says the situation is an “internal matter,” the Blackhawks did inform both the league and the players’ union. Additionally, Davidson mentioned that the new reporting processes the team put in place after the Beach situation made a difference in the handling of the decision.

Although some fans advocated for more transparency from the Blackhawks, the team has handled the Perry situation as well as it could. The swift and effective actions taken signify that Chicago is holding up its end of the bargain as a more honest franchise, which is a big step in the right direction.