Anze Kopitar could enter his final NHL season this fall. The LA Kings icon might not re-sign a new contract after his two-year, $14 million contract expires next season.
During his appearance on the Sports Central Podcast, Kopitar said that he has considered retirement and hinted that the 2025-26 NHL season could be his last.
“I mean, if I said I didn’t think about it, I’d be lying for sure,” Kopitar said. “I’ve been thinking about it. Not everything is quite decided yet, but this could be my last season in the NHL, yes!”
“This could be my last season in the NHL, yes.”
Anze Kopitar tells @jaimemaggio on the Sports Central Podcast his 20th year with the @LAKings might be his final one. Full podcast comes out tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/ntzfwipA2H
— Sports Central LA (@SportsCentralLA) August 28, 2025
Kopitar, 38, finished with 21 goals and 67 points in 81 games last season. This is in line with reports circulating about no extension on the table currently after Kings GM Ken Holland reaffirmed that Kopitar is approaching his future “year by year.”
Kopitar shares “family” is a big reason behind possible retirement
During the same conversation with Jaime Maggio, Anze Kopitar said he’d like to spend more time with his family after missing “a bunch of holidays, a bunch of birthdays, a bunch of recitals in schools, a bunch of games, a bunch of figure skating competitions.”
Kopitar said that while it’s “bittersweet,” his two kids, daughter Neza and son Jacob, need him at this stage of their lives.
“But at the same time, you know, my kids will be 11 and nine years old,” Kopitar said. “It’s just at the time when they need their dad around a lot more than I would be playing hockey.”
Nonetheless, if the upcoming season indeed ends up being his last season, Kopitar did well for himself, earning five All-Star selections and winning two Stanley Cups with the Kings.
