Veteran winger Corey Perry didn't just return to the Los Angeles Kings for the upcoming 2026-27 season because another NHL team wanted to give him a contract. The 41-year-old said his decision was driven by his love of the sport and the chance to compete for a Stanley Cup.
Perry still feels up to the task and is still having fun playing the game of hockey in his early 40s.
"I feel great. I'm still having fun and still feel young. And he's [Griffin] a big part of that."Corey Perry
He doesn't want to retire just yet, and it sounds like his son Griffin is helping him enjoy hockey even more.
"(Griffin) keeps me up to date on what goes on in the league. He's telling me what's going on and all the scores from the night before during the season.Perry
This is what it's all about: sharing memories. I'm just glad that he loves it just as much as I do. It helps motivate you when you're doing all those offseason workouts, things like that. It keeps you going."
Corey Perry still believes the Los Angeles Kings can contend for the Stanley Cup
Perry's confidence this offseason doesn't come without reason. When he returned from the lower-body injury that caused him to miss training camp and the preseason last fall, he quickly became an effective contributor in the offensive zone and an important part of the Kings' forward group up front.
The Kings signed Perry to a one-year contract in unrestricted free agency earlier this month. That came after he played most of this past regular season with the Kings before Los Angeles traded him to the Tampa Bay Lightning around the deadline.
After the 2025-26 season, Perry could've retired after 21 seasons playing in the NHL, or he could have signed elsewhere. Instead, he chose to return to Los Angeles for another season.
"We're excited to see where it goes. And, like I said, the additions are definitely going to help. And you know, going in there, knowing a lot of the guys already, everybody has that goal at the start of the season. That's to make the playoffs and then the Cup."Perry on the Kings
The Kings and general manager Ken Holland know exactly what they're getting with Perry. The veteran brings leadership, grit, net-front presence, and playoff experience to a team that has plenty of proven players in the forward group to try and get this team over the hump in the postseason next spring.
"Kenny Holland is trying to put a team together to make another run, make another push. I think this team can take that next step. From there, you see how it goes."Perry
While the Kings already have plenty of proven and experienced forwards in the projected lineup for the upcoming season, Perry gives another veteran voice in the locker room to help push this team further into contention in the Western Conference.
Over his more than 20 seasons in the league, Perry has accomplished almost everything there is to accomplish in the NHL. He's won a Stanley Cup and an MVP in his career, but the fact that he's still eager to compete at the highest level, and believes Los Angeles gives him the right opportunity, is exactly the type of mindset that the Kings want in their locker room going into the upcoming 2026-27 season.
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