Anze Kopitar, broadly thought of the best participant in Kings franchise historical past and poised to develop into the group’s all-time main scorer, introduced Thursday he’ll retire on the finish of the 2025-26 season.
“I simply felt that is the time, however saying that, I’m trying extraordinarily ahead to this subsequent season,” stated Kopitar, who added the choice was rooted in spending extra time together with his household. “I nonetheless have have a whole lot of motivation. I’ve bought a whole lot of power, a whole lot of want to compete on the highest stage.”
Kopitar stated he was assured his choice would maintain — even when the Kings made all of it the way in which to Recreation 7 of a Stanley Cup Closing.
Getting into his twentieth season with the Kings and the ultimate yr of his contract, the choice was considerably anticipated from the 38-year-old group captain. He informed KCAL Information final month he was interested by retirement and that it may very well be his final NHL season.
Kings common supervisor Ken Holland informed NHL Community Radio in July that Kopitar indicated he wasn’t searching for a contract extension this summer time and was aspiring to take issues a “yr at a time.”
Kopitar’s announcement got here solely hours after Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw introduced he would retire on the finish of the season.
Kopitar’s Corridor of Fame credentials have already been established. The best participant ever from Slovenia, he helped lead the Kings to the franchise’s Stanley Cup victories in 2012 and 2014 as a part of a core 4 that included Dustin Brown, Jonathan Fast and Drew Doughty.
Kopitar is second all-time in franchise scoring, with 1,278 factors in a franchise-leading 1,454 video games performed. He’s 30 factors away from breaking Marcel Dionne’s group report for many factors (1,307). He ranks third all-time in franchise objectives (440) behind Luc Robitaille (557) and Dionne (550) and leads in assists (838). He’s a two-time Selke trophy winner (finest defensive ahead) and three-time Woman Byng trophy winner (gentlemanly play).
Kings middle Anze Kopitar celebrates with the Stanley Cup after the Kings defeated the New Jersey Devils to win the franchise’s first title in 2012.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Instances)
Drafted eleventh total by the Kings in 2005, Kopitar made a direct influence throughout his 2006-07 rookie season, ending with 20 objectives and 61 factors for a downtrodden group that was in the course of a six-year playoff drought.
Ultimately, with Doughty becoming a member of the group in 2008 coupled with regular development from Brown, Fast and Kopitar, the Kings returned to the playoffs in 2010 earlier than capturing the franchise’s first Stanley Cup in 2012.
Kopitar has stood out on a group that has had many greats, together with NHL all-time main scorer Wayne Gretzky.
“It’s actually laborious for me to sit down right here and say I’m the best King. That’s simply not my persona. Removed from it,” Kopitar informed The Instances’ Helene Elliott in 2023. “There’s been nice Kings on this group, with Marcel, Luc, Dave [Taylor], Wayne, Blakey [Rob Blake]. The checklist can go on for a bit of bit. Brownie. Individually, sure, nevertheless it’s about collective wins.”
With Kopitar’s choice, the largest roster query going through the Kings stays whether or not they can re-sign Adrian Kempe to a long-term deal. Kempe, who has led the group in factors the final two seasons, is within the last yr of his contract.
The Kings open the preseason Sunday in opposition to the Geese within the Empire Basic at Toyota Area in Ontario. They start the common season in opposition to the Colorado Avalanche at Crypto.com Area on Oct. 7.
It is a creating story. The Instances can have extra on Kopitar’s choice to retire on the finish of the season quickly.
