The Tampa Bay Lightning have acquired veteran right winger Corey Perry from the Los Angeles Kings for a 2026 second-round pick, as per Elliotte Friedman.
Perry Returns to Tampa Bay For Second Stint
The seemingly-ageless Perry will return to Tampa Bay for his second stint with the organization. The 40 year old, one of the oldest active NHLers, previously played for them in 2021-22 and 2022-23 and has suited up for 1,442 games in a long and recently-winding career.
The first-round 2003 pick of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks — known for both his offensive IQ and pesky, on-the-edge play style — has 11 goals and 17 assists for 28 points in 50 games this season and 459 goals and 504 assists for 963-career points between the Mighty Ducks/Ducks, Dallas Stars, Montreal Canadiens, Chicago Blackhawks, Lightning, Edmonton Oilers, and Kings.
The Peterborough product, who won the Stanley Cup with the Ducks in 2007 but has lost five others since, has 64 goals and 77 assists for 141 points in 237-career postseason games.
Perry signed a one-year contract worth $2 million last offseason and will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. Earlier this week, he had informed the Kings he wanted to sign an extension, but changed his mind on deadline day, as per Frank Seravalli.
Related: 2026 NHL Trade Deadline Tracker
Perry will join a Lightning club that has been excellent for most of the season but has struggled recently and lost four in a row. They are tied for first in the Atlantic Division with the Buffalo Sabres with 80 points but have two games in hand. Lightning brass will hope Perry is a plug-and-play addition for them considering head coach Jon Cooper is still at the helm.
Kings Add Draft Capital
The Kings have tumbled to sixth in the Pacific Division after a strong start to the season but still have a chance to make the playoffs as they are three points out of the second Western Conference wild-card spot.
However, general manager Ken Holland appears to be focused on amassing draft capital and offloading contracts this deadline. Yesterday, he traded Warren Foegle to the Ottawa Senators for 2026 second and third rounders.
