from Chris Johnston and Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic,

Corey Perry met with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman to discuss his recovery from struggles with alcohol and is eligible to return to the league if he finds a contract as a free agent, two sources briefed on the matter confirmed to The Athletic on Tuesday.

Perry didn’t have to get formal clearance from Bettman and initiated the meeting on his own.

He’s technically been eligible to sign a new deal as a free agent ever since the Chicago Blackhawks terminated his $4 million, one-year contract on Nov. 30, citing an internal investigation that found Perry had engaged in “conduct that is unacceptable, and in violation of both the terms of his standard player’s contract and the Blackhawks’ internal policies intended to promote professional and safe work environments.”

The specific details of what caused Chicago to cut ties with the 38-year-old forward remain unknown. At the time, Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson termed it a “workplace matter” and indicated it didn’t involve criminal activity.

After the Blackhawks cut ties with Perry, he released a statement to apologize for his behavior, calling it “inappropriate and wrong.”

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