Veteran Corey Perry could play on the same team as youngster Connor Bedard next season as the Chicago Blackhawks acquired his negotiating rights from the Tampa Bay Lightning Thursday in exchange for a seventh-round pick in the 2024 draft.
However, the 38-year-old skater has to reach an agreement with the Illinois organization by noon Saturday. Otherwise, the free agent market will be put to the test. He has reached $1 million each in the last two years.
“We will try to offer him a contract. “We had preliminary talks today, but we’ll see where it goes in a day or two,” Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson said.
If he signs with the Hawks, Perry will find head coach Luke Richardson, who he worked with in 2020-2021 when he was an assistant with the Montreal Canadiens.
“We saw how he worked with the young players there and he enjoyed it. We’ve seen the benefits of what Corey has done, so we’re going to try to capitalize on that too.”
adjustments
Obviously, the name Bedard immediately comes to mind. It’s believed Perry could help the young player adjust to life in the National League, especially since the Hawks have lost a majority of their veterans in recent years. The big guy also doesn’t shy away from disrupting the opponent and can defend his teammates if necessary.
“I would say it could be a side effect,” Davidson said. That wouldn’t be our primary reason, but rather the mentoring and veteran presence we want to bring.
Perry won the Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks in 2006-2007 and made three straight playoffs with the Dallas Stars, Canadiens and Lightning between 2020-2022.
“He’s been in the league for a long time, he knows what it takes to win, he knows how to be professional,” the GM said.
Last season, the Ontario native had 12 goals and 13 assists in 81 games for 25 points. He has 883 points in 1,257 career games.