Kyle Garcia With training camp just around the corner, we are previewing each player on the LA Kings roster. Up next: Anze Kopitar!
Anze Kopitar
Birthdate: August 24, 1987
Birthplace: Jesenice, Slovenia
Height: 6’4
Weight: 225 lbs
Position: Center
Shoots: Left
Draft: 1st round, 11th overall, 2005 NHL Entry Draft
2023-24 season
It was the season of the milestone for the Kings’ captain. In year 17, Kopitar became the all-time leader in games played and assists for the organization. In addition to those two, the captain became the fourth player in franchise history to record 400 goals in a Kings uniform, second on the all-time points list in franchise history, and the top 50 in scoring in NHL history. As the Kings were rolling the first two months of the season, so was Kopitar racking up the milestones.
However, as the Kings hit a wall to start 2024, questions came up about Kopitar’s play. Was he hurt? Tired? Father time catching? I think it was just bad play from the overall team. Nevertheless, Kopitar finished the season with 70 points in 81 games as the 1C. His 70 points were good enough for third on the team. It was the third time in Kopitar’s 18 seasons as a King he didn’t lead the team in scoring.
In five playoff games against the Oilers, Kopitar recorded three points, but all three points came in the Kings’ game two overtime victory, which included Kopitar scoring the game-winning goal. However, for the third consecutive playoffs, the Kings would be eliminated by McDraisaitl and the Oilers in the first round.
THE CAPTAIN SCORES HIS 400TH GOAL 💯💯💯💯 pic.twitter.com/odWeJT1v3R
— LA Kings (@LAKings) November 9, 2023
2024-25 outlook
Kopitar will be back for season number 19, starting year one of a two-year contract extension he signed last summer. Entering his age-37 season, should the Kings rely heavily on the future Hall of Famer on a roster that has retooled with more youth? That will be the question heading into the season, but I still expect Kopitar to be the 1C and productive.
I don’t expect them to hand the 1C reins over to Quinton Byfield just yet (maybe that happens next year), but his role should be reduced if LA plans to keep him fresh down the stretch if they have hopes of making the playoffs. According to the MoneyPuck website, Kopitar was second among forwards in total minutes on both the power play and penalty kill. Reducing his minutes on special teams and keeping him fresh for five-on-five or leaving him on the power play and taking him off the penalty kill completely could be two options the Kings can choose if they want to so he’s not out of gas come March/April.
Where the Kings are right now, which is in a transition and being competitive and not a Stanley Cup contender, it’s time to start slowly handing the keys over to the youth. When it’s all said and done Kopitar will go down, if he hasn’t already, as the greatest King of all time.
Featured image credit: AP News Photo/Ashley Landis
Jeannot – Ko – Ke