The Tampa Bay Lightning has strengthened its roster by acquiring veteran forward Corey Perry from the Los Angeles Kings on Friday, on the NHL’s trade deadline day. As per reports, the Kings received a second-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft in exchange for the 40-year-old winger. Perry now returns to Tampa Bay after spending two seasons with the Lightning from 2021 to 2023.
During that stint, he helped the team reach the Stanley Cup Final in the 2022-23 season and became a key veteran presence in the lineup. As per the NHL, the 40-year-old veteran has scored 28 points in 50 games this season with L.A., showing he can still contribute offensively. Known for his playmaking skills, the player has 141 points in 237 career postseason games and won the Stanley Cup with Anaheim in 2007.
Veteran forward player Corey Perry joins the Tampa Bay Lightning from the LA Kings
Corey Perry is on the move again, as the veteran forward has been traded back to the Tampa Bay Lightning on NHL trade deadline day. As he returns to the Tampa Bay Lightning from the Los Angeles Kings, this is the sixth time he has switched sides since 2019, when his long career with the Anaheim Ducks ended.
Several reports suggest that the reason behind Perry’s trade is that his cap hit is modest, and many contenders could absorb a low-cost veteran addition.
At the trade deadline, teams often trade players on expiring contracts to give veterans a better chance to join a strong playoff team.
But Perry has said he wants to stay, and his contract includes a no-trade clause, so the team has fewer real options if it thinks about moving him. Meanwhile, the longtime NHL forward had been playing for the Kings after signing a one-year contract with the club in July 2025.
According to the NHL, the LA Kings signed forward Corey Perry to a one-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $2million, and up to an additional $2 million in performance bonuses, through the 2025-26 season.
This season, Perry has played around 50 games with Los Angeles. He recorded 11 goals and 17 assists for 28 points, providing steady production despite being one of the league’s oldest active players. Besides, in 1,442 NHL games, the veteran has 459 goals and 963 points, and has won the Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007.
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