After rumours about the acquisition swirled around the hockey world this weekend, the Edmonton Oilers announced Monday morning that they had signed veteran forward Corey Perry.
At a news conference on Monday, Oilers general manager Ken Holland said the deal was finalized over the weekend and that he only planned to announce it Monday, but joked that “it’s getting harder and harder to keep things secret in the world that we live in.”
“(I’ve been) after Corey the last few years,” Holland said.
“I think he’s type of player that every team wants on their team.”
Shortly after the signing was announced, Perry was seen practising with his new Oilers teammates at Rogers Place on Monday.
Shortly after the Oilers announced they had signed veteran forward Corey Perry, he was seen practising with his new teammates at Rogers Place on Monday.
Global News
Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said that he wanted Perry to get practice time with his new teammates and that there was no definite timeline for when the team’s new forward would play a game, but that it could come as early as Saturday.
Holland and Perry told reporters that a number of teams had tried to sign Perry in recent weeks.
When asked why he chose the Oilers, Perry joked about his family’s influence.
“When you have a six-year-old kid and you have Connor McDavid on the team, you kind of follow the Edmonton Oilers a little bit,” he said with a laugh, adding that he spoke to McDavid who told him great things about the Oilers players. “This team’s going in the right direction… The vision they have.
“They want to win a Stanley Cup here… There’s a team in here that wants to win … There’s nothing better than winning … That’s why you play this game.”
Perry became a free agent after the Chicago Blackhawks, the club he had signed a one-year contract with in the offseason, terminated his contract in the fall.
In a statement issued by the Blackhawks in late November, the club said it planned to terminate his contract following an internal investigation which it said “determined that Corey Perry has engaged in conduct that is unacceptable, and in violation of both the terms of his contract and the Blackhawks’ internal policies intended to promote professional and safe work environments.”
The Blackhawks never provided details about what Perry allegedly did, but told reporters that the situation involved an “individual personnel matter” and could not disclose further details.
But Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson did say “this does not involve any player or their families, and anyone that suggests otherwise is wildly inaccurate and it’s frankly disgusting.”
FILE – Chicago Blackhawks right wing Corey Perry (94) plays during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Nov. 18, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn.
(AP Photo/George Walker IV, File)
In late November, Perry issued a statement about the Blackhawks’ investigation in which he said he wanted to “sincerely apologize to the entire Chicago Blackhawks organization, including ownership, management, coaches, trainers, employees, and my teammates.
“I would also like to apologize to my fans, and my family,” his statement read in part. “I am embarrassed and I have let you all down.
“As a result of my actions, there has been speculation and rumours. I am sickened by the impact this has had on others, and I want to make it clear that in no way did this situation involve any of my teammates or their families. Most importantly, I want to directly apologize to those who have been negatively affected and I am sorry for the additional impact to others it has created. My behaviour was inappropriate and wrong.”
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Perry, who said at the time he was seeking help related to alcohol use, also never provided details about what alleged actions led to the investigation.
When asked Monday for more details about what led to the contract termination, Perry declined to answer. He also declined to answer when asked if he was considering filing an appeal over the contract’s termination.
“Over the last two months, I really had a chance to reflect and get the help and to take full responsibility for what happened in Chicago and try to better myself,” Perry said Monday. “Those are the things that I’ve been working on with people in the mental health field.
“I have to thank my family, my friends, all the support I’ve gotten — the support from my counsellors … From where I was two months ago to where I am today, it’s made a world of difference.”
Perry described the uncertainty he felt when his contract was terminated and just took things “day by day.”
“This whole situation is not easy, but if you do have a problem, get help,” he said. “When I get up in the morning, every day now … I can look myself in the mirror and be happy with myself and where I’m going.”
Holland said at some point after Perry’s contract was terminated, he reached out to the player’s agent “to find out what was going on.”
“And over the course of the last few weeks, I’ve done due diligence to get to this point,” he said, noting he has met with NHL officials, spoken with the Blackhawks general manager and others about Perry’s situation. He said he also spoke at length with Oilers personnel about signing the player.
“(He has taken steps) to make himself a better person,” Holland said, noting that Perry met with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman recently to speak about what led to the contract termination. “We felt that this was an opportunity to add a player that can make us better on and off the ice. He’s a great leader.
“Come playoff time, you think about blue-paint goals and greasy goals, and that’s what Corey stands for. ”
The Oilers said Perry will wear number 90.
Perry, who hails from Ontario, has a reputation as a tough competitor. While the 38-year-old player is past his prime in terms of scoring goals, he scored more goals than any other NHL player in the 2010-11 regular season and captured the Hart Trophy that year, awarded annually to the player judged to be the most valuable member of his team.
Perry has played in a staggering 1,273 regular season NHL games in his career, scoring 421 goals while also being credited with 471 assists and 1,392 penalty minutes.
He won the Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007 and in his career has played 196 playoff games, accumulating 53 goals and 71 assists for 124 points.
Perry has also played for the Tampa Bay Lightning, Montreal Canadiens and Dallas Stars.
Anaheim Ducks players Dustin Penner (left), Ryan Getzlaf (centre), and Corey Perry (right) hold up the Stanley Cup after the Ducks won the finals with a 6-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators in Anaheim, Calif. Wednesday, June 6, 2007.
AP Photo/Mark Avery
News of Perry’s signing came as the Oilers continue a historic winning streak.
After winning 3-1 over the Flames in Calgary on Saturday night, the Oilers have now won 13 games in a row, a record among teams playing in Canadian cities.
The Oilers have been on a remarkable mission to turn their season around in recent weeks. In November, the club fired head coach Jay Woodcroft after an ugly start to the 2023-24 season and replaced him with Knoblauch.
The Oilers have won 23 of 29 games since the coaching change.
When asked about making lineup changes to the team when it is in the middle of a winning streak, Knoblauch noted that the team has already done that during its current run.
“We’re not blowing things up,” he told reporters. “We’re not trying to make sudden changes or big changes.
“I think with Corey he makes our team a little bit better. Unfortunately, we have guys playing well and somebody’s going to have to take a reduced role and somebody’s not going to be able to play. But throughout this streak, it’s not like it’s the first change we’ve made.”
Knoblauch was asked about Perry’s competitive and physical playing style and if that would make it hard to introduce him to the Oilers’ dressing room.
“I know there’s been plenty of players that I’ve coached against that I absolutely hated,” he said. “But I’ve also said, ‘Oh man, I wish he was on my team,’ and I think our players have a lot of respect for him because of the way he plays.”
Knoblauch said he trusts Holland’s judgment and does not believe Perry joining the Oilers after having his contract terminated by the Blackhawks will be a distraction.
“With our team being as strong as it is, the amount of leaders that we have … it’s not a distraction,” he said. “(He) feels that he can add something to our team … I think he’ll make our team better in the short term, but definitely in the long term in the playoffs, where it’s so hard to score goals.
“He adds that element of scoring goals and also the element of just being hard to play against — giving our team a little more personality … and then also the leadership.”
Perry said he is excited to be able to don an Oilers uniform.
“This is a passionate fanbase,” he said. “(It’s) an exciting time for the Oilers organization.
“You look around that room, you’ve got some pretty tremendous players … Thank you to the Oilers organization.”
–With files from Michelle Butterfield, Global News
TORONTO – Singles star Leylah Fernandez and doubles specialist Gabriela Dabrowski will anchor Canada’s five-player lineup when the team tries to defend its Billie Jean King Cup title in mid-November.
The 26th-ranked Fernandez, the 2021 U.S. Open finalist from Laval, Que., is the lone Canadian in the top 100 of the WTA Tour’s singles rankings.
Dabrowski, from Ottawa, is ranked fourth on the doubles list. The 2023 U.S. Open women’s doubles champion won mixed doubles bronze with Felix Auger-Aliassime at the recent Paris Olympics.
Marina Stakusic of Mississauga, Ont., returns after a breakout performance last year, capped by her singles win in Canada’s 2-0 victory over Italy in the final. Vancouver’s Rebecca Marino is also back and Bianca Andreescu, the 2019 U.S. Open champion from Mississauga, Ont., returns to the squad for the first time since 2022.
“Winning the Billie Jean King Cup in 2023 was a dream come true for us, and not only that, but I feel like we made a statement to the world about the strength of this nation when it comes to tennis,” Canada captain Heidi El Tabakh said Monday in a release. “Once again, we have a very strong team this year with Bianca joining Leylah, Gaby, Rebecca and Marina, making it an extremely powerful team that is more than capable of going all the way.
“At the end of the day, our goal is to make Canada proud, and we’ll do our best to bring the same level of effort and excitement that we had in last year’s finals.”
Fernandez, who beat Jasmine Paolini to clinch Canada’s first-ever title at the competition, is ranked No. 42 in doubles.
Canada, which received an automatic berth as defending champion, will play the winner of the first-round tie between Great Britain and Germany on Nov. 17 at Malaga’s Martin Carpena Arena.
Australia, Italy and wild-card entry Czechia also received first-round byes. The tournament, which continues through Nov. 20, also includes host Spain, Slovakia, the United States, Poland, Japan and Romania.
Stakusic is up 27 spots to No. 128 in the latest world singles rankings. Marino is at No. 134 and Andreescu, the 2019 U.S. Open champion, is ranked 167th.
Canada will look to become the first team since Czechia in 2016 to successfully defend its Billie Jean King Cup title.
Malaga will also host the Nov. 19-24 Davis Cup Final 8. The Canadian men qualified over the weekend with a 2-1 victory over Great Britain in Manchester.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 16, 2024.
PITTSBURGH – Sidney Crosby plans to remain a Pittsburgh Penguin for at least three more years.
The Penguins announced on Monday that they re-signed the 37-year-old from Cole Harbour, N.S., to a two-year contract extension that has an average annual value of US$8.7 million. The deal runs through the 2026-27 season.
Crosby was eligible to sign an extension on July 1 with him entering the final season of a 12-year, $104.4-million deal that carries an $8.7-million salary cap hit.
At the NHL/NHLPA player media tour in Las Vegas last Monday, he said things were positive and he was optimistic about a deal getting done.
The three-time Stanley Cup champion is coming off a 42-goal, 94-point campaign that saw him finish tied for 12th in the league scoring race.
Crosby has spent all 19 of his NHL seasons in Pittsburgh, amassing 592 goals and 1,004 assists in 1,272 career games.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 16, 2024.
MONTREAL – Tadej Pogacar was so dominant on Sunday, Canada’s Michael Woods called it a race for second.
Pogacar, a three-time Tour de France champion from Slovenia, pedalled to a resounding victory at the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montreal.
The UAE Team Emirates leader crossed the finish line 24 seconds ahead of Spain’s Pello Bilbao of Bahrain — Victorious to win the demanding 209.1-kilometre race on a sunny, 28 C day in Montreal. France’s Julian Alaphilippe of Soudal Quick-Step was third.
“He’s the greatest rider of all time, he’s a formidable opponent,” said Woods, who finished 45 seconds behind the leader in eighth. “If you’re not at your very, very best, then you can forget racing with him, and today was kind of representative of that.
“He’s at such a different level that if you follow him, it can be lights out.”
Pogacar slowed down before the last turn to celebrate with the crowd, high-five fans on Avenue du Parc and cruise past the finish line with his arms in the air after more than five hours on the bike.
The 25-year-old joined Belgium’s Greg Van Avermaet as the only multi-time winners in Montreal after claiming the race in 2022. He also redeemed a seventh-place finish at the Quebec City Grand Prix on Friday.
“I was disappointed, because I had such good legs that I didn’t do better than seventh,” Pogacar said. “To bounce back after seventh to victory here, it’s just an incredible feeling.”
It’s Pogacar’s latest win in a dominant year that includes victories at the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia.
Ottawa’s Woods (Israel Premier-Tech) tied a career-best in front of the home crowd in Montreal, but hoped for more after claiming a stage at the Spanish Vuelta two weeks ago.
“I wanted a better result,” the 37-year-old rider said. “My goal was a podium, but at the same time I’m happy with the performance. In bike racing, you can’t always get the result you want and I felt like I raced really well, I animated the race, I felt like I was up there.”
Pogacar completed the 17 climbs up and down Mount Royal near downtown in five hours 28 minutes 15 seconds.
He made his move with 23.3 kilometres to go, leaving the peloton in his dust as he pedalled into the lead — one he never relinquished.
Bilbao, Alaphilippe, Alex Aranburu (Movistar Team) and Bart Lemmen (Visma–Lease) chased in a group behind him, with Bilbao ultimately separating himself from the pack. But he never came close to catching Pogacar, who built a 35-second lead with one lap left to go.
“It was still a really hard race today, but the team was on point,” Pogacar said. “We did really how we planned, and the race situation was good for us. We make it hard in the last final laps, and they set me up for a (takeover) two laps to go, and it was all perfect.”
Ottawa’s Derek Gee, who placed ninth in this year’s Tour de France, finished 48th in Montreal, and called it a “hard day” in the heat.
“I think everyone knows when you see Tadej on the start line that it’s just going to be full gas,” Gee said.
Israel Premier-Tech teammate Hugo Houle of Sainte-Perpétue, Que., was 51st.
Houle said he heard Pogacar inform his teammates on the radio that he was ready to attack with two laps left in the race.
“I said then, well, clearly it’s over for me,” Houle said. “You see, cycling isn’t that complicated.”
Australia’s Michael Matthews won the Quebec City GP for a record third time on Friday, but did not finish in Montreal. The two races are the only North American events on the UCI World Tour.
Michael Leonard of Oakville, Ont., and Gil Gelders and Dries De Bondt of Belgium broke away from the peloton during the second lap. Leonard led the majority of the race before losing pace with 45 kilometres to go.
Only 89 of 169 riders from 24 teams — including the Canadian national team — completed the gruelling race that features 4,573 metres in total altitude.
Next up, the riders will head to the world championships in Zurich, Switzerland from Sept. 21 to 29.
Pogacar will try to join Eddy Merckx (1974) and Stephen Roche (1987) as the only men to win three major titles in a season — known as the Triple Crown.
“Today gave me a lot of confidence, motivation,” Pogacar said. “I think we are ready for world championships.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 15, 2024.
