LA Kings acquire 2028 second-round pick in exchange for forward Corey Perry

The LA Kings have acquired a second-round draft pick from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for forward Corey Perry.

The second-round pick is Tampa Bay’s selection in 2028. Additionally, Kings have retained 50 percent of Perry’s contract through the end of the season.

Instant Analysis
A trade that makes sense for the Kings.

First things first here, Perry had a no-trade clause, meaning that he had full control over this trade. That Tampa Bay was desireable for him is unsurprising. Perry had a career resurgence in Tampa Bay a few years back. Coming off short stints in Dallas and Tampa Bay, Perry scored 19 goals in 82 games during the 2021-22 season as he established himself as a key depth piece on a contending team, which reached the Stanley Cup Final that season, as they fell in six games against Colorado. So, that he wanted to go back there is not surprising at all.

From a Kings perspective, the return of another second-round pick is a good one for a pending unrestricted free agent. The Kings have established a young and hungry fourth line with Jeff Malott, Samuel Helenius and Taylor Ward. Not that those players are better or more established than Perry – they aren’t – but Helenius and Ward are signed beyond this season and present younger energy to a team that is certainly in need of it. Perry has shown he’s capable of playing higher in the lineup, but ultimately, he is an elite fourth-line player with a power-play presence, which is the role that he was signed to fill in Los Angeles. For the Kings, sitting three points out of a playoff position in the Western Conference, that becomes a luxury you can’t afford to have when there is a Top-64 draft pick on the table. That’s the type of player you need on a contending team. A team chasing a Stanley Cup. The Kings aren’t punting on playoff qualification and I wouldn’t be surprised to see a couple of the picks they’ve acquired going out in other trades to potentially bring in another forward. But right now, you can’t say the Kings are a cup contender, so this trade makes a ton of sense.

Perry should leave Los Angeles with a lot of respect. He was professional and hardworking in his short time here, clearly making a positive impact on several of the younger players here. It did not take long for him to win over a large portion of a fanbase that, frankly, hated him for so many years. Not an easy task. Credit where credit is due on that front. A consummate professional in his time with the Kings. Should be appreciated for that.

The Kings now have three extra second-round picks, on top of their own selection. They acquired second-round picks for Phillip Danault, Warren Foegele and Corey Perry. All felt like good value for the players at the time of the respective trades. I think this is a trade that shows that the Kings are not under any illusions of where they are at in the league right now. This is not a “we’re right there” trade or an overreaction to last night’s game meaning that the Kings are back in that conversation. It’s a trade that recognizes that the 2025-26 season has been a disappointment for this organization, nowhere near the expectations that were set over the summer. Teams in that position should be selling a pending free agent for a high draft selection. They did that here.

With that being said, I would not be surprised to see the Kings go out and add to the group, in one of a couple ways. The deadline I’m looking at is the Washington Capitals in 2023. The Capitals acquired draft picks in the first, second and third rounds. They also sent out a first-round pick, in exchange for Rasmus Sandin, who was a young defenseman with first-round pedigree, who was signed with the next season and beyond in mind. Washington made the playoffs the following season and won a playoff round, with Sandin playing 82 games. Now, we’ll see if anything like that actually happens. But I think it makes some sense. The Kings can use some of that draft capital to add a player who is under contract beyond this season, someone who they see a role for both this season and next. The Kings could also add a player for lesser draft capital who is a pending free agent. You move out Perry and Foegele for second-round picks, but add a forward who can perhaps offer similar production, but costs less? That’s not a bad trade off, keeping the Kings in contention to make the playoffs, without cutting the heart out of a team that has played very hard over the last 120 minutes. That’s something I could see and would be supportive of. Have seen a couple names floated who would fit that bill.

Still a couple hours left here on Deadline Day. Ken Holland has been extremely active and he’s done well thus far in my opinion with the returns he has gotten on the players going out. Interested to see what else he might have up his sleeve, whether that be additional players coming in to play down the stretch and potentially into next season. Or whether that be acquiring more future assets, with where the Kings currently sit in the playoff picture. Lots of time, Insiders. Let’s see where things go.

From the team’s official release –

The LA Kings have acquired a second round pick in the 2028 NHL Draft from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for forward Corey Perry. The Kings will retain 50% of Perry’s contract.

Perry, 40, has registered 11 goals and 28 points (11-17=28) in 50 games for the Kings this season with four power-play goals and 59 penalty minutes (PIM). A Stanley Cup Champion with Anaheim in 2007, Perry is as a veteran of 1,442 career NHL games, accumulating 459 goals and 963 points (459-504=963) over parts of 21 seasons split between the Anaheim Ducks (2005-19), Dallas Stars (2019-20), Montreal Canadiens (2020-21), Tampa Bay (2021-23), Chicago Blackhawks (2023-24), Edmonton Oilers (2024-25) and Kings (2025-26). The Peterborough, Ontario native has added 64 goals and 141 points (64-77=141) in 237 career Stanley Cup Playoff outings.