With training camp just around the corner, we are previewing each player on the LA Kings roster. Up first: Anze Kopitar!
Anze Kopitar
Birthdate: August 24, 1987
Birthplace: Jessenice, Slovenia
Height: 6’4
Weight: 225 lbs
Position: Center
Shoots: Left
Draft: 1st round, 11th overall, 2005 NHL Entry Draft
2024-25 season
Anze Kopitar completed his 19th season and assumed the role of number-one center for the Kings. For just the fourth time in his career, and the second straight season, Kopitar didn’t lead the team in scoring. The captain stormed out of the gates with 37 points (10 G, 27 A) in 32 games, which started with a season opener victory in Buffalo, and the season with 67 points (21 G, 46 A) in 81 games. He played the fourth most total minutes (second among forwards) and seventh in total minutes at 5v5 (third among forwards). His four penalty minutes earned him his third Lady Byng Trophy.
Anze Kopitar is so good at hockey pic.twitter.com/HRN4YXa3QX
— LA Kings (@LAKings) November 28, 2024
HOW LUCKY ARE WE TO BE ALIVE AT THE SAME TIME AS ANZE KOPITAR pic.twitter.com/OZRa8LUhA3
— LA Kings (@LAKings) April 24, 2025
Anze Kopitar takes home his third career Lady Byng Memorial Trophy! 🏆🏆🏆#NHLAwards
The Lady Byng Memorial Trophy is awarded annually “to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing… pic.twitter.com/wbzs7LAwm7
— NHL (@NHL) June 12, 2025
If you dive deeper, at 5v5, per Natural Stat Trick, Kopitar had a 51.4% CF%, 50.8% FF%, 51.1% SF%, 59% GF%, 50.6% xGF%, 49.5% SCF%, 52.3% HDCF%, and 61.9% HDGF% during the regular season. He also tallied nine points (2 G, 7 A) in six playoff games as the Kings fell to the Edmonton Oilers in the first round for the fourth consecutive year. His nine points placed him in a tie with Luc Robitaille for second all-time playoff scoring in Kings history.
2025-26 outlook
Kopitar will be returning for his 20th season, making him the first player to don a Kings sweater that long. However, will it be the final year we see him in a Kings uniform? According to John Hoven of Mayor’s Manor, the Kings aren’t expected to extend his contract, but it’s possible Kopitar’s decision could be on a year-to-year basis. Kopitar will be 38 at the start of the season, and if it indeed is his last season, could this be the year the torch of the 1C is passed to Quinton Byfield? Slowly but surely, it has been with Byfield playing more minutes at 5v5 and on the penalty kill than Kopitar, according to Natural Stat Trick.
Not expecting Kopitar to sign an extension of any sort. Enjoy his final season in the NHL.
— The Mayor | Team MM (@mayorNHL) July 18, 2025
Whether it is the final year of Kopitar’s illustrious career as a King, we are still on milestone watch for the captain. Kopitar is 30 points away from passing Marcel Dionne as the franchise’s all-time leading scorer and three even-strength goals from passing Dave Taylor for third in franchise history. He also needs four points to pass Alex Delvecchio and 23 points to pass Jarome Iginla for 39th and 38th on the NHL’s all-time scoring list.
Featured image credit: Ryan Sun-Imagn images
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