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?<\/p>\n
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Video Transcript<\/p>\n
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?<\/p>\n
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?<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
and, you know, Kopitar is a, an incredible two-way performer.<\/p>\n
and, you know, Kopitar is a, an incredible two-way performer.<\/p>\n
should he be a f-first ballot Hall of Famer?<\/p>\n
should he be a f-first ballot Hall of Famer?<\/p>\n
Most definitely.<\/p>\n
Most definitely.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Yeah, really just tremendous career for him.<\/p>\n
Yeah, really just tremendous career for him.<\/p>\n
Deandra, any final thoughts on, on Kopitar and, and where you think he should be in the Hall of Fame conversation?<\/p>\n
Deandra, any final thoughts on, on Kopitar and, and where you think he should be in the Hall of Fame conversation?<\/p>\n
I mean, I echo everything that Michael said.<\/p>\n
I mean, I echo everything that Michael said.<\/p>\n
I did think it was, you know, fitting that he and Clayton Kershaw announced retirement on the same day.<\/p>\n
I did think it was, you know, fitting that he and Clayton Kershaw announced retirement on the same day.<\/p>\n
And, it was also really fitting that he was happy that some of the attention would come off of him.<\/p>\n
And, it was also really fitting that he was happy that some of the attention would come off of him.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
I think they’re gonna wanna push even harder for him in his last season.<\/p>\n
I think they’re gonna wanna push even harder for him in his last season.<\/p>\n
So just, really happy for him.<\/p>\n
So just, really happy for him.<\/p>\n
What a amazing career, and just kinda echo everything that Michael said.<\/p>\n
What a amazing career, and just kinda echo everything that Michael said.<\/p>\n
I mean, you can’t argue it.<\/p>\n
I mean, you can’t argue it.<\/p>\n