Kings’ Perry Faces Crucial 6-8 Week Hiatus After Unexpected Knee Surgery—What This Means for the Team’s Playoff Hopes

Well, here’s a tough break for the Los Angeles Kings right before the grind of the new NHL season kicks off. Corey Perry, a seasoned vet with a jaw-dropping 20 years on the ice, just had to hit pause—six to eight weeks of sidelined time thanks to knee surgery. And the timing? Oh, it couldn’t be more frustrating: Perry got hurt skating at the Kings’ training facility this past Friday, just days before the team’s camp starts and their opener against the Colorado Avalanche looms on October 7. This guy, who’s no stranger to big moments—remember, he snagged the MVP back in 2011 and has danced in five Stanley Cup Finals in the last six seasons—is now facing a lengthy recovery instead of chasing another ring. Perry’s journey is wild: fourteen seasons clashing with the Ducks before hopping between a handful of teams, including Dallas, Montreal, Tampa Bay, Chicago, and Edmonton. Despite the stumbles in recent finals, and a title won back in 2007 with Anaheim, his stats still sparkle—448 goals, 487 assists, and perched 121st on the all-time NHL scoring chart going into this season. Just last year, he put up some serious numbers for Edmonton, lighting the lamp 19 times in the regular season, plus stepping up big in the playoffs. No doubt the Kings will miss his veteran savvy while he heals—but true hockey fans know, resilience is part of the game. LEARN MORE

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Los Angeles Kings forward Corey Perry will be sidelined for six to eight weeks after undergoing knee surgery.

The 40-year-old Perry was injured Friday while skating at his new team’s training complex, the Kings announced Saturday. The Kings will report for training camp in less than a week, and their season opener is Oct. 7 against the Colorado Avalanche.

Perry agreed to a one-year, $2 million contract laden with incentives to join the Kings this summer for his 21st NHL season. The 2011 NHL MVP spent his first 14 seasons with the Kings’ archrivals, the Anaheim Ducks, before moving on to Dallas, Montreal, Tampa Bay, Chicago and Edmonton.

He has played in the Stanley Cup Final in five of the past six seasons — but his team lost each time, including back-to-back losses with the Oilers to the Florida Panthers. He won a Stanley Cup title with the Ducks in 2007.

Perry recorded 448 goals and 487 assists during his first 20 seasons, and he begins 2025-26 121st on the NHL’s career scoring list. He had 19 goals and 11 assists in 81 regular-season games for Edmonton last season before adding 10 goals and four assists in the playoffs.