Corey Perry linked to surprising Stanley Cup Contender

Guess who will be returning to the ice? The former Blackhawks forward, Corey Perry, recently got the nod from the NHL to make a return after his abrupt exit from the Chicago Blackhawks.

Now, word on the street is that Perry and the Toronto Maple Leafs might be eyeing each other with some mutual interest.

During a chat on TSN 1050, Carlo Colaiacovo hinted at a possible match-up between Perry and the Leafs, Perry could join former Blackhawks

Perry had a decent run with the Blackhawks, netting four goals and nine points in 16 games. However, his sudden departure was tagged with "unacceptable conduct."

Now, nobody spilled all the beans on what went down, but rumors suggest there was some kind of alcohol-fueled incident at an event with corporate partners and team folks. Despite the hush-hush, the Leafs, and probably a bunch of other teams, are considering Perry for a spot, likely on the 4th line.

Hockey insider Mike Johnson threw in his two cents, saying that if Perry agrees to a bargain contract, around 12 playoff-hungry teams would be up for grabbing him.

In a heartfelt statement after his release, Perry owned up to his mistakes and pledged to tackle his alcohol struggles head-on. He said:

As Perry eyes a possible comeback, the Maple Leafs, along with other teams, are mulling over the prospect of having the veteran forward join their ranks for the next leg of his hockey journey.