The Tampa Bay Lightning just got a veteran boost.
The Los Angeles Kings are trading forward Corey Perry to the Lightning in exchange for a 2028 second-round pick, the team announced Friday.
Perry signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Kings in the off-season that included a no-trade clause, meaning the 21-year veteran had to sign off on the trade.
Los Angeles will retain 50 per cent of the salary.
The Kings made a big splash ahead of the Olympic break by acquiring Artemi Panarin from the New York Rangers, but have lost three of their first five games since returning to play — including two against Pacific Division rivals.
They sit three points out of a playoff spot, but would have to leapfrog the upstart San Jose Sharks, who have played two fewer games, to have a shot at the post-season.
Complicating their push further are long-term injuries to forwards Andrei Kuzmenko and Kevin Fiala — who suffered a broken leg at the 2026 Olympics.
Now, they recoup a second-round draft pick and the 40-year-old Perry has the chance to compete for the Stanley Cup for the seventh year in a row and the 17th time of his career.
Perry has 11 goals and 17 assists through 49 games in his first season with the Kings. In 1,442 NHL games, the Peterborough, Ont., native has 459 goals and 963 points and won the Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007.
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