An era is ending as Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar just became the franchise’s all-time points leader in his final NHL season. That leads to a compelling question: who ranks the highest between Kopitar, Jonathan Toews, Aleksander Barkov or Patrice Bergeron?
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Mike, do you think that Kopitar goes down as one of the best Kings of all time, and, and where do you think he, is in terms of a, a potential Hall of Fame conversation?
Mike, do you think that Kopitar goes down as one of the best Kings of all time, and, and where do you think he, is in terms of a, a potential Hall of Fame conversation?
Well, I think he’s the best center in LA Kings history, and that’s not casting aspersions on Marcel Dionne, but Marcel Dionne was pretty much an offense-only player.
Well, I think he’s the best center in LA Kings history, and that’s not casting aspersions on Marcel Dionne, but Marcel Dionne was pretty much an offense-only player.
and, you know, Kopitar is a, an incredible two-way performer.
and, you know, Kopitar is a, an incredible two-way performer.
should he be a f-first ballot Hall of Famer?
should he be a f-first ballot Hall of Famer?
Most definitely.
Most definitely.
You know, f- he had four hundred and forty career goals, and if, y- you know, all the, the accolades that you read off, he won the Selke two times in the age of Bergeron, which that’s, that’s a miracle in and of itself that anybody else other than Patrice Bergeron won, won the Selke.
You know, f- he had four hundred and forty career goals, and if, y- you know, all the, the accolades that you read off, he won the Selke two times in the age of Bergeron, which that’s, that’s a miracle in and of itself that anybody else other than Patrice Bergeron won, won the Selke.
So he won the Cup twice with the, those two LA Kings teams that, you know, with Jonathan Quick and Drew Doughty, and he was one of the main reasons why.
So he won the Cup twice with the, those two LA Kings teams that, you know, with Jonathan Quick and Drew Doughty, and he was one of the main reasons why.
So I think he’s a first ballot Hall of Famer, and I think he’s probably in the top two or three players in LA Kings history.
So I think he’s a first ballot Hall of Famer, and I think he’s probably in the top two or three players in LA Kings history.
Yeah, really just tremendous career for him.
Yeah, really just tremendous career for him.
Deandra, any final thoughts on, on Kopitar and, and where you think he should be in the Hall of Fame conversation?
Deandra, any final thoughts on, on Kopitar and, and where you think he should be in the Hall of Fame conversation?
I mean, I echo everything that Michael said.
I mean, I echo everything that Michael said.
I did think it was, you know, fitting that he and Clayton Kershaw announced retirement on the same day.
I did think it was, you know, fitting that he and Clayton Kershaw announced retirement on the same day.
And, it was also really fitting that he was happy that some of the attention would come off of him.
And, it was also really fitting that he was happy that some of the attention would come off of him.
I know he, you know, had said that he didn’t want this to be a distraction for the team, but I think this is, this is more of, like, a celebration for the team.
I know he, you know, had said that he didn’t want this to be a distraction for the team, but I think this is, this is more of, like, a celebration for the team.
I think they’re gonna wanna push even harder for him in his last season.
I think they’re gonna wanna push even harder for him in his last season.
So just, really happy for him.
So just, really happy for him.
What a amazing career, and just kinda echo everything that Michael said.
What a amazing career, and just kinda echo everything that Michael said.
I mean, you can’t argue it.
I mean, you can’t argue it.