Corey Perry is headed back to Los Angeles, and the move gives him a shot at reaching one of hockey’s rarest milestones next season.
The Kings announced they have brought back the 41-year-old forward on a one-year, $1 million deal, according to Frank Seravalli. It will be Perry’s 22nd NHL season, and if he gets into at least 36 games, he’ll become just the 25th player in league history to reach 1,500 career regular-season games.
That kind of durability puts him in some elite company. Perry would join a group that includes Nicklas Lidstrom, Patrick Marleau and Gordie Howe, a fitting neighborhood for a player whose career has lasted well over two decades.
Perry enters the season with 1,568 points in 1,464 games. He has worn plenty of sweaters along the way, skating for the Anaheim Ducks, Tampa Bay Lightning, Dallas Stars, Montreal Canadiens, Chicago Blackhawks, Edmonton Oilers and now the Kings. Last season, he posted 17 goals and 20 assists for 37 points in 72 games split between Tampa Bay and Los Angeles.
The Kings have been busy shaping the roster around veteran experience. General manager Ken Holland opened free agency by signing Erik Haula to a two-year contract, then added Mats Zuccarello on a one-year deal before landing Perry on the same term and salary. Perry gives the team another seasoned presence in a depth role.
His return also says something about where Los Angeles stands. Perry could have gone elsewhere, but instead chose to come back, a sign of trust in Holland’s direction or a final push for another playoff run.
The Kings are also facing a changing locker room. Anze Kopitar’s departure and Drew Doughty’s expected departure next season leave a leadership gap, and Perry brings plenty of postseason experience after appearing on multiple Stanley Cup Finals rosters. He should also be a useful voice for younger players, including Quinton Byfield, who is set to move into the top-line center role with Kopitar gone.
Free agency is still in its early stages, and Holland may not be done. But Perry’s return already gives the Kings another proven veteran and a chance to add his name to one of hockey’s most exclusive clubs.
In Other News...
Kings May Have Finally Found The Bargain Fix For Their Offense
The offseason push to juice the offense has led the Kings toward a familiar kind of solution: veteran help on manageable money. Mats Zuccarello and Corey Perry were brought in on short-term deals, giving Los Angeles a pair of experienced forwards who can fit into different parts of the lineup while also keeping the front offices financial flexibility intact.
For Ken Holland, the appeal is clear. Zuccarello should help on the power play, Perry brings scoring and edge, and the bargain structure of both signings opens the door for more roster work elsewhere, including the addition of Erik Haula. The bigger question now is how much lift those moves can actually provide for a team that has been looking for a more reliable offensive punch. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Free Agency Targets Matter More Than Ever After Kopitar's Exit
With NHL free agency set to open July 1, the Kings are heading into a stretch that could shape the post-Anze Kopitar era more than any one trade deadline ever did. General manager Ken Holland is working with a roster that needs help in several places, from blue-line depth to center support and another forward who can slide into the top six and keep the offense moving.
One name already tied to that search is Jack Roslovic, a center who can bring some scoring punch without forcing a major cap commitment. For a team trying to replace a franchise pillar while still patching up multiple spots on the lineup card, those kinds of value bets matter, and the Kings are likely to spend the first days of July weighing which additions fit best before the market thins out. [Read more 🡒]