This is it for Anze Kopitar.
The Los Angeles Kings legend announced in September that the 2025-26 NHL season will be his last. When the campaign is over, the 38-year old all-time great from Slovenia will retire.
But in the meantime, he’s got a chance to add to an incredible legacy, beginning Tuesday night as the season gets underway.
Kopitar is a two-time Stanley Cup champion, and he begins the campaign having scored 1,278 points between 440 goals and 838 assists.
He has lived up to all the hype and more as the No. 11 overall pick by the Kings in 2005.
Amazingly, he has spent his entire NHL career in Los Angeles. This will be his 20th season with the Kings.
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It’s an era of such legends in the league. Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin have had even longer tenures with their own clubs.
Kopitar has been well-known in NHL circles but maybe flown a tad under the radar in a city as busy as Los Angeles.
But he’s as consistent as they come. In all but two of his 19 previous seasons, he has played at least 72 games.
Even in 2024-25 at 37 years old, Kopitar put up 21 goals and 46 assists in 81 games.
He’s still one of the most reliable centers in hockey, and it’s a cool thing that he’ll get a chance to go out while still at a high level on the ice.
And if the Kings and Kopitar have their way, they’ll try and make a bit more noise in his final NHL season.
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