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Former Oilers Forward Corey Perry Reveals The Key Reason He Signed With Rival Los Angeles Kings

Originally posted on Hockey Latest | By Jack Sutherland | Last updated Jul 2, 2025 7:19 PM ET

40 year-old veteran Corey Perry has gone to the West Coast, joining the Los Angeles Kings on a 1-year deal, and he explains why he chose to leave the Oilers.

Perhaps no player in the NHL today is hoping to win the Stanley Cup one more time before retirement than Corey Perry, who has lost 5 straight times in the Cup Final in the last 6 years.

He's lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning with the Dallas Stars, the Lightning again with the Montreal Canadiens, the Colorado Avalanche with the Lightning, and now twice in a row to the Florida Panthers with the Edmonton Oilers.

While Perry indicated he'd like to be back for what would have been a 3rd year with the Oilers, he instead joined their divisional foe Los Angeles Kings, with a 1-year deal.

He's the latest arrival in Los Angeles, who have also signed Cody Ceci (another ex-Oiler), Brian Dumoulin, Joel Armia, Anton Forsberg, and Taylor Ward among other players.

Perry was originally signed by the Oilers in late 2023 by Ken Holland, who is now the GM of the Kings after departing following their Cup Final loss in 2024.

Perry explained that things didn't go as planned with the Oilers and that he moved on and was happy to accept a deal with the Kings when Holland phoned him.

Edmonton's always going to have a soft spot in my heart. Me going there, and them bringing me in, going to two Cup Finals and going through it all with those guys, but not getting the job done.

Perry then sent a special message to the fans in Edmonton.

It's memorable. Those fans are so passionate, especially in playoff time. It's a tremendous building and one of the best to play in.
But when we kind of had a feeling it wasn't going to go the way we kind of planned, those things happen. You move on to something else, and you get ready for something else. When Kenny called, and having that relationship, it definitely helps.

Perry had 30 points (19G, 11A) in 81 games with the Oilers this year.

This article first appeared on Hockey Latest and was syndicated with permission.

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