Rishaug said, "All eyes are on Ken Holland right now. My sense is, outside their first-round pick, all options (29,97 aside) are in play to find a fix. Prospects, 2nd rounders, roster players, all on the table."
Simultaneously, a cloud of mystery surrounds Chicago Blackhawks forward Corey Perry, leaving fans and media puzzled about his sudden absence from recent games and practices. Perry was unexpectedly scratched against the Columbus Blue Jackets, with Head Coach Luke Richardson citing it as an organizational decision. Perry's absence from Thursday's practice deepens the intrigue.
Also, Petr Mrazek, the Blackhawks' starting goaltender, was absent from morning skate with no explanation provided by management and will not be starting their next game. The Oilers need a goaltender. Richardson remained tight-lipped about the situation, saying, "I know you have questions about Corey Perry not playing last night and attending practice today, but we're going to keep that internal in the organization right now. I'm not going to be able to answer any more questions on that."
Any of these elements would be a positive add, said Oilers reporter Rishaug:
Cup experience
Physicality/Toughness
Positive locker room presence/energy
Ironically, all three of those boxes are checked off by Corey Perry with ease.
Adding to the speculation, Blackhawks veteran Nick Foligno addressed the media, hinting at Perry's absence and potentially leaking a trade. Foligno's statement:
This statement implies that the Blackhawks may be navigating through a significant trade involving Perry, who possesses valuable playoff experience, making him an ideal fit for the Edmonton Oilers.
POLL | ||
NOVEMBRE 23 | 182 ANSWERS Corey Perry traded to the Edmonton Oilers? Recent reports suggest that might just be what's unfolding Would you be happy with a 1st round pick in exchange for Perry? | ||
Yes | 147 | 80.8 % |
No | 35 | 19.2 % |
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