According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Tampa Bay Lightning are acquiring veteran forward Corey Perry from the Los Angeles Kings. The trade comes a day after Frank Seravalli of Victory+ reported that Perry had made his intention known to Los Angeles that he would be interested in remaining with the organization. Both organizations have confirmed the deal.
Seravalli shared that the Kings would receive a second-round pick from the Bolts in exchange for Perry’s services. Later, TSN’s Pierre LeBrun confirmed it was Tampa Bay’s 2028 second-round pick headed back to Los Angeles.
Last offseason, Perry signed a one-year, $2MM contract with the Kings, with performance bonuses. According to ESPN’s Emily Kaplan, Los Angeles recently paid Perry $250K for reaching the 50-game mark. For the remainder of the year, the Bolts will be on the hook for a $125K payment for a Round One win, a $250K for a semi-finals win, and a $125K for a Conference Final win. David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period added an interesting twist to his bonus structure, sharing that the Kings are retaining 50% of his salary, which would apply to his bonuses.
It’s a return to Tampa Bay for the 21-year veteran. Perry enjoyed two years with the Lightning from 2021 to 2023, scoring 31 goals and 65 points in 163 games, averaging 12:33 of ice time in a bottom-six role. Since then, he has spent his time in the Western Conference with the Chicago Blackhawks, Edmonton Oilers, and Kings.
Although he’s far removed from being a constant threat for the Hart Trophy, Perry has remained a productive forward into his 40s. Since leaving the Lightning after the 2022-23 NHL season, Perry has registered 42 goals and 80 points in 185 games with a +5 rating.
Still, Perry’s recent runs in the Stanley Cup playoffs have become something of a running joke around the league. Since being bought out by the Anaheim Ducks after the 2018-19 campaign, Perry has reached five Stanley Cup Finals and lost each one of them.
Regardless, that doesn’t mean he hasn’t remained productive in the postseason. As he has done in the regular season, Perry has been a steady tertiary scorer in spring hockey. Since the 2019-20 postseason, Perry has scored 28 goals and 52 points in 119 playoff contests.
For Tampa Bay, the team didn’t need to add much on deadline day. The Lightning are already one of the best teams in the NHL, but it never hurts to insert additional goal-scoring, especially at the bottom of a lineup. To boot, Perry is a familiar face and will give the Bolts an extra veteran presence to lean on come playoff time.
From the Kings’ perspective, even if Perry had the desire to remain in Los Angeles for another season or two, it didn’t make much sense from an organizational perspective. Yes, Perry is productive, but he’s into his age-40 season, and the team has a decent crop of young talent that could theoretically fill the void on the bottom-six moving forward.
Still, the team is attempting to add significant draft capital. If the second-round selection is within the next two years, the Kings will have seven picks in the first two rounds of the next two drafts, exiting the Anze Kopitar era.
Photo courtesy of Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images.
Congrats to whoever comes out of the West for beating the Lightning in the cup finals.
TB to the finals – jump on that bet now
WTF last night Perry said no to his NMC!!! Are we selling everything at this point? Hopefully Holland is cooking something!!
Its tough not making the playoffs. Hang in there u had 2.5 good years…
Ekblad…Marchand aging out….Bob is done….
Enjoy the long off season
The closer to 3pm we get, the more insane the deals get!
lol Perry for a 2nd!?!? Hoping the Perry charm works again lol. Now that’s expensive
Corey Perry got a 2nd
Panarin got a prospect
Both had Full NMCs
Drury is the worst GM in the NHL
Good trade for both teams. The Kings have been playing tougher and faster since Hiller’s firing. There is still a chance to make the playoffs, but with all the injuries it will be tough! Kings now have four 2nd round picks!
Ken Holland’s Kings tenure would be so good if he didn’t go senile with the Dumolin and Ceci contracts
Maybe he can trade 1 or both!
They get a second, Corey gets to join another deep playoff run and they can still sign him again in the off-season if they want and he agrees. Win Win.
Nick Foligno, And Corey Perry should both take a seat on the end of the bench, And take the next few plays off.
Keep him away from the office secretaries.
Typical overpay by JBB at the deadline. Bolts needed D and real forward depth. Wasted a pick.
Agree. JBB is a good GM but gives away Draft Picks like Candy on Halloween. Not sure he tries to negotiate giving away a lesser pick. It’s like he calls the other GM and asks for the Player, they ask for the pick, and he says OK. I don’t believe JBB cares to negotiate with Draft Picks. That Jeanott trade still eats at me to this day. It’s part of the reason why the Bolts Farm System is always bottom 5.
I would rather he call up AHL leading Scorer Pelletier for some bottom six scoring. His contract for the next two years is one way anyway so why not bring him up a little earlier now. Jake has earned the call up.
Yeah, that’s one of my eternal riffs. It’s like trading actual value to get a goon; WTF, every team in the league’s got some big stiff on their AHL team who can skate up to players and punch them in the head, if that’s all they’re after, and said stiff makes league minimum to boot.
As a Kings fan I did not like the fact he was on the team, even if he was one of their most effective players. I know it makes me a crappy fan, but so be it.
That doesn’t make you a crappy fan, you don’t have to like a guy just because he’s playing well on your team especially if the guy has had off ice shenanigans.