An "alcohol-fueled incident" appears to be the core of NHL veteran Corey Perry's exit from the Chicago Blackhawks.
The franchise announced Perry had been placed on waivers Tuesday with the intention of terminating his contract, and the 38-year-old cleared waivers Wednesday, according to a report.
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Perry had not seen the ice with the Blackhawks since a Nov. 19 game, and his absence and later dismissal are now being attributed to an "alcohol-fueled incident."
Allegedly occurring before the team's Nov. 22 game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Perry was swiftly scratched from the lineup for "unacceptable" behavior, the report noted.
"After an internal investigation, the Chicago Blackhawks have determined that Corey Perry has engaged in conduct that is unacceptable, and in violation both of the terms of his Standard Player’s Contract and the Blackhawks’ internal policies intended to promote professional and safe work environments," a Tuesday release from the organization read.
"As such, Corey Perry has been placed on unconditional waivers. In the event Mr. Perry clears waivers, we intend to terminate his contract effective immediately."
In the immediate aftermath of the announcement of Perry's departure, rumors spread online about what might have caused the Stanley Cup champion's exit.
One popular suggestion included an accusation about an indecorous relationship, but Blackhawks General Manager Kyle Davidson quickly shot down such allegations.
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"I do want to be very clear on this one point," Davidson said. "This does not involve any other players or their families, and anyone that suggests otherwise is wildly inaccurate, and frankly, it's disgusting."
"I think we went through the process as quickly as we could in order to run a responsible investigation ... To be honest, over the last 24 hours, what’s gone on has been very disturbing and I feel like I'm wearing it. I'm carrying it. It's tough to see."