Media: Corey Perry | 10.22.25 LA Kings Practice in Dallas

Media: Corey Perry | 10.22.25 LA Kings Practice in Dallas

Obviously been few weeks gearing up. Just how nice was it to get back out there and finally play that first game with the Kings? Yeah, it was nice. Um, you know, when you’re you’re out and you’re not around the team a whole lot and going through training camp, you you kind of miss a lot of things and um you know, being around the team a little bit the last few days and and finally getting in there. It’s uh you know, it definitely helps and it’s definitely nice that we got a win on at the same time and uh and keep moving forward over the summer. I know I don’t want to take you back too much, but what exactly happened, you know, in that that captain’s skate and what was your first thought as you’re approaching that first camp with the Kings and then just that goes down for you? I mean, I was standing at the blue line, went to make a one-touch pass. I didn’t even move. I just went down on on one leg and um you know, it uh the miniscus tore and and uh you know, I knew right away what it was. My knee wouldn’t straighten and um you know, things happen. uh you know we got a fix and here we are. Talk about kind of not being with the group during camp. How challenging was it that whole time to be kind of watching from above and trying to learn you know new systems and structure and teammates but you can’t be out on the ice like growing with the group? Well, that’s the hardest thing is you need your reps. You need to you need to be out there to do it and uh to really feel comfortable. But um know I was in some meetings and I wasn’t around a lot cuz I was doing my own thing but trying trying to get ready. But um you know the guys have been great. Coach has been great. They you know I have questions. They have the answers for me. So um it’s been an easy transition. You’ve obviously played your whole career against guys like Kobe and Drew, but there’s also a bunch of guys here who you’ve played with in different stops throughout your career. How nice is that to have a group of players that you’re so familiar with coming here to LA? Well, it’s definitely helped. Um, you know, I played with five, six, seven guys that, uh, you know, that were either new or or have been here a little bit. Um, you know, and the familiarity with with Drew, uh, I’ve known Kobe for a little bit. Um, you know, but they’ve, uh, the transition’s been great. They, you know, everybody’s kind of taken their way under their wing and helped them along the way. Cory, I got a tough one for you. Um, every team can use a Cory Perry, but can you see how you fit with this group? I mean, yeah, it’s kind of, you know, why I chose here and, um, yeah, you know, I’m excited just to be here and and be a part of this and see where this can go. Um, it’s it’s a good group. I played against them many, many times over my career and over the last few years. So, um, they know what they’re doing and just got to go and do it. When you come back from an injury, is there something you look for early in a game to be like, “Okay, I’m back in this.” Like first puck touch or first puck battle or first maybe hit you take, something like that. Obviously, you’re a little nervous. You know, coming off of uh, you know, pretty severe injury and you don’t know how it’s going to feel. Yeah, you can do everything you can in in practice, but uh, you know, they they know what they know how how you’re feeling, so it’s not the same. um you know the other team’s trying to win and trying to take the puck off you and try and knock you down and do all that kind of stuff. So yeah, it was a little nerve-wracking first couple shifts, but you get that that out of the way and you just play hockey. Cory, when you’re 20 plus years in, I know you probably asked this question a long time ago, but when you were growing up, who did you watch? Who did you say, “Okay, this is the guy I want to be or kind of model your game after.” Oh, there’s a few. Um, you know, it’s obviously the the one wing Gretzky, you know, Mariel Lemieux and Joe Sack. Those were the those are the three guys that that I I pay attention to that I watched and um I mean they’re pretty good players. Talking with a couple of the younger forwards. They’ve said they’ve come to you at times to try to learn from your game. How do you approach, you know, that mentor role with someone who’s kind of getting their feet wet as you were when you were starting your career? Well, that’s the biggest thing. I had it when when I was young. I had some some pretty good leaders and pretty pretty good players to to go up to and and Salani, Nemire, Pronger, you know, though they’re they were big names and um you know, if if you have something, you just go ask and I’m sure they’ll have the answer. They they’ve seen enough in this game and you know, I’m just trying to trying to be that person around here and if you know, whatever whatever they might need, you know, a little tip on the ice, whatever it is, they I’m always here. Yesterday we were talking to Joel Edmonson and Cody Cece and it’s interesting two guys who played with you before but also different positions can can tell us you know the impact that you have on the ice. So when you were coming up how important was it to learn from you know some defenseman about how you can kind of grow as a player in front of the net at the same time? Well, yeah. I mean, you you learn quick in this league that uh that goals are scored around the net and you got to go there and um and in practice, I mean, going up against Chris Pronger, it’s not fun. I’ll tell you that even when he’s on your team. So, um you know, I learned at an early age, you got to be fearless and just go there and and and park yourself and and uh yeah, you’re going to take a shot here and there, but um you know, it’s part of the game. Not many better guys than Chris Pronger to learn from in that regard. Yeah, it’s pretty good. Yeah.

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