Anze Kopitar is entering the 20th season of his storied career, all spent with the team that drafted him in 2005 the Los Angeles Kings. The 37 year old Slovenian vet has still got it, coming off a 24-25 season in which he recorded 21 goals and added 46 assists for a total of 67 points in the regular season and an additional 2 goals and 7 assists in 6 playoff games.
The 25-26 season will be the last of Kopitar’s current 2 year $7 million contract. And via Jason Gregor, next season will likely be the last of Kopitar’s career. The end at least with the Kings that is as Kopitar is reportedly not planning on signing an extension with LA. It is unknown at this time whether he would continue playing elsewhere, it is hard to imagine him on the ice not playing for the Kings.
If the reports are indeed true that this will be the last dance for Anze, what a career it has been. He will go down as one of the best NHL players of the modern era.
What is Anze Kopitar’s legacy?
Anze Kopitar is the only Slovenian hockey player to ever make it to the NHL. And he has been a fantastic one, amassing 440 goals and 838 assists for 1,278 points in 1,454 regular season games and adding 27 goals with 62 assists for 89 points in 103 playoff games. He has won 2 Stanley Cups in 2012 and 2014. And his individual trophy case includes 3 Lady Byng trophies, 2 Selke’s and the Mark Messier NHL Leadership award. He is the highest non-Sidney Crosby scorer from his draft class and will probably retire as the LA Kings franchise scoring leader, as he is only 30 points from passing Marcel Dionne for this honor.
We’ll see what decision Kopitar makes at the conclusion of this season. Until then, fans should enjoy watching the Kings legend for a potential last hurrah before its all said and done.
