"Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar will retire after this season, his 20th in the NHL, he announced Thursday. Kopitar, who helped lead the Kings to Stanley Cups in 2012 and 2014, turned 38 last month. The two-way center is entering the final season of a two-year extension he signed in July 2023 after playing his entire career with Los Angeles."
"According to those close to the captain, Kopitar wanted to make the announcement before the season so he could fully focus on the 2025-26 Kings, a team with Stanley Cup aspirations. The Kings have not won a playoff series since winning their last Stanley Cup in 2014, losing to the Edmonton Oilers in the first round each of the past four seasons."
"Kopitar will retire as a franchise legend. He already sits atop the Kings' record book for games played (1,454) and assists (838) and is 29 points away from tying Marcel Dionne's mark of 1,307 points as the team's all-time leading scorer. Kopitar is also two back from Jeff Carter's record for most overtime goals (11) in team history."
Anze Kopitar will retire after the upcoming season, ending a 20-year NHL career spent entirely with the Los Angeles Kings. Kopitar helped lead the Kings to Stanley Cups in 2012 and 2014 and turned 38 last month. The two-way center is playing the final season of a two-year extension signed in July 2023. Kopitar has won two Selke Trophies (2016, 2018) and three Lady Byng Trophies (2016, 2023, 2025). He announced the retirement before the season to focus on the 2025-26 Kings, a club pursuing a Stanley Cup under new general manager Ken Holland and recent veteran additions. Kopitar holds franchise records for games played and assists and remains close to the franchise scoring and overtime-goal marks. He is also a national sports figure in Slovenia as the first Slovenian to play in the NHL.
Read at ESPN.com
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