Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar is set to retire at the end of the 2025-26 season, the 38-year-old told reporters on Thursday.
Kopitar is entering his 20th season with the Kings, where he won two Stanley Cups (2012, 2014).
Anze Kopitar has announced that he will be retiring from the NHL after this season. 👑
✔️ The first player from Slovenia to play in the NHL
✔️ 2 Stanley Cups
✔️ 2 Frank J. Selke Trophies
✔️ 3 Lady Byng Memorial Trophy
✔️ 1 Mark Messier Leadership Award
✔️ 5 All-Star Game… pic.twitter.com/lTy1znKsSx
— NHL (@NHL) September 18, 2025
“My mind is made up,” Kopitar said in a press conference. “It was a hard decision, and I will put 100% of my energy into this season. I know I’m going to give it all and leave the game with a positive mindset.”
The 6-foot-3 centre appeared in 81 games last season, recording 21 goals and 67 points. He added two goals and nine points in six playoff games before his team was eliminated by the Edmonton Oilers in the first round.
He is entering the final season of a two-year, $14 million deal that carries a cap hit of $7 million.
Kopitar is the Kings’ all-time leader in games played (1,454), assists (838), and game-winning goals (78). He also ranks second in team history with 1,278 points and third with 440 goals.
Drafted 11th overall by the Kings in 2005, Kopitar is a two-time Selke Trophy winner (2016, 2018), and three-time Lady Byng Trophy winner (2016, 2023, 2025).
He also won the Mark Messier Leadership Award in 2022.
The Jesenice, Slovenia, native represented his country at the 2014 Winter Olympics, recording two goals and three points in an 11th-place finish. He also represented Slovenia four times at the World Championship, finishing as high as 13th.