The Los Angeles Kings have traded veteran forward Corey Perry to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for a 2028 second-round draft pick. Perry, who has recorded 11 goals and 28 points in 50 games this season, reunites with his former teammates from his 2021-2023 stint with Tampa Bay. The Lightning reached the Stanley Cup Final in both seasons during Perry's previous tenure.

Perry brings extensive postseason experience, having appeared in five of the past six Stanley Cup Finals but losing all of them, including back-to-back appearances with the Edmonton Oilers in 2024 and 2025. He holds the record for reaching the Stanley Cup Final with five different teams: Anaheim, Dallas, Montreal, Tampa Bay, and Edmonton. Perry's value lies not just in his skill but in his ability to disrupt opponents and provide veteran leadership.

The Lightning, dealing with several key injuries this season, gain needed depth in their forward group. Perry is on a one-year, $2 million contract with performance bonuses, including $250,000 for reaching 50 games and additional bonuses for playoff advancement. Meanwhile, the Kings continue to struggle despite acquiring Artemi Panarin in a recent blockbuster trade and have fired coach Jim Hiller while sitting three points out of a Western Conference wild-card spot.