A veteran forward is making his return back to the Sunshine State. News emerged early Friday afternoon that the Tampa Bay Lightning have traded for veteran forward Corey Perry. The Los Angeles Kings will receive a second-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman first reported news of the deal.
Corey Perry is heading BACK to the Tampa Bay Lightning for a 2nd round pick per @FriedgeHNIC pic.twitter.com/DrdwmcNQ7u
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) March 6, 2026
Corey Perry Traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning by the Los Angeles Kings
Perry has played for the Anaheim Ducks, Dallas Stars, Montreal Canadiens, Lightning, Chicago Blackhawks, Edmonton Oilers, and the Kings across his 21-year NHL career. He previously played for the Lightning two season, where he reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2022-23.
The veteran forward has 11 goals and 17 assists for 28 points in 50 games so far this season. He is averaging 14 minutes, 19 seconds of ice time this season. Perry has a Corsi for of 57.7 and a relative Corsi of 8.2.
The 40-year-old won the Hart Trophy and the Maurice Richard Trophy in the 2010-11 season. Perry won the Stanley Cup in the 2006-07, but he’s had a losing run in the final in recent years.
He’s also been decorated at the international level with his native Canada. The Peterborough, Ontario native is a member of the Triple Gold club and a two-time Olympic gold medalist.
What It Means
Tampa Bay is in first place in the Atlantic Division. However, the team has the Buffalo Sabres are trying to chase down the Lightning.
Perry has been unlucky in the final in recent years but is an important pickup for Tampa Bay. He’s very familiar with the system and helps round out the bottom six. The Lightning are very top-heavy and adding Perry will help fill out that lineup.
We saw Perry turn back the clock last postseason with the Oilers. He wants to hoist one more Stanley Cup before he calls it a career and going to Tampa Bay gives him a realistic shot at that goal.
Main photo by: Griffin Hooper-Imagn Images