Corey Perry is heading back to familiar territory, signing a one-year, $2M deal with the Los Angeles Kings that brings the veteran winger back to California after a brief stint with the Edmonton Oilers.
"It feels like coming home," Perry told NHL.com’s Mike Zeisberger. "Playing in Anaheim for 14 years, that’s where I really built my career. It’ll always be special to me."
The 38-year-old might be wearing different colors this time, but his excitement about returning to Southern California is clear.
Perry’s California story runs deep. He spent 14 seasons with the Anaheim Ducks, racking up an impressive 372 goals and 776 points in 988 games. During that run, he helped bring the Ducks their first-ever Stanley Cup in 2007 and earned both the Hart Memorial and Maurice Richard trophies in 2010-11.
The last six years have seen Perry bounce around the league, playing for five different teams: the Dallas Stars, Montreal Canadiens, Tampa Bay Lightning, Chicago Blackhawks, and most recently, the Oilers.
He’s stayed productive during those travels, putting up 76 goals and 159 points in 404 games. But it’s in the playoffs where he’s really shined lately – 28 goals and 52 points in 119 postseason games, including five trips to the Stanley Cup Final.
Though he’s originally from Peterborough, Ontario, Perry’s connection to California runs deep. "It was a big part of my career, my life, and it always will be," he said.
In other Western Conference news, Chicago’s promising prospect Nick Lardis might get his NHL shot sooner than expected. The Athletic’s Mark Lazerus suggests we could see him in the 2025-26 season, but there’s a case for giving him a look this year after his monster OHL season – 71 goals and 117 points in just 65 games with the Brantford Bulldogs.
Meanwhile, Calgary’s recent first-round pick Cullen Potter is taking inspiration from an unusual source – his mom. Jenny Schmidgall-Potter, a USA Hockey Hall of Famer, has been his biggest influence. "People who watched her play say I skate just like her," the Arizona State sophomore told NHL.com.
