Los Angeles Kings forward Corey Perry may have been injured during an offseason skate at the Toyota Sports Performance Center in El Segundo on Friday. The incident occurred along the boards, and it is unclear whether the injury was a result of contact with another player or from catching a rut on the ice.
According to reports, the 40-year-old winger was taken off the ice in a wheelchair for further medical evaluation. As the incident occurred during the offseason, an official announcement from coach Jim Hiller or other team personnel is unlikely until training camp opens.
Perry signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Kings in July and was expected to play a bottom-six role while bringing veteran leadership to the team. Any significant absence would be a blow to the Kings, though the team has depth at wing, with players like Akil Thomas, Andre Lee, Jeff Malott, and Taylor Ward capable of filling in if needed.
Throughout his NHL career, Perry has played in nearly 1,400 regular-season games, recording 448 goals and 487 assists for 935 points, along with almost 1,500 penalty minutes. He has also tallied 64 goals and 77 assists for 141 points in 237 postseason games. Perry has reached the Stanley Cup Final six times, winning one with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007. He has also played for the Dallas Stars, Montreal Canadiens, Tampa Bay Lightning, Chicago Blackhawks, and Edmonton Oilers.
Perry is known for his abrasive playing style and goal-scoring ability. He won the Hart Memorial Trophy and Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy in 2011. Perry has also won gold medals with Canada at the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics, the 2016 IIHF World Championships, and the 2005 World Junior Championship.