Anze Kopitar

**Anže Kopitar** (, born 24 August 1987) is a Slovenian professional ice hockey player who is a centre and captain for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL). The 11th overall pick in the 2005 NHL entry draft, Kopitar became the first Slovenian to play in the NHL upon making his debut in 2006. Kopitar has spent his entire NHL career with the Kings, has led the team in scoring in all but four seasons and is first in franchise history in points, third in goals, and first in assists. He scored his 1,000th career point in 2021. He won the Stanley Cup with the Kings in 2012 and 2014. Following the 2015–16 season, he was named the Kings' captain. Noted for both his offensive and defensive play, Kopitar was awarded the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the best defensive forward in the NHL in 2016 and 2018 while also being a finalist in 2014 and 2015, as well as the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for gentlemanly play in 2016, 2023 and 2025 while also being a finalist in 2015. He was also a finalist for the Hart Memorial Trophy in 2018.

## Career
Before playing in the NHL, Kopitar played for the Slovenian Ice Hockey League from 2002–2004, and the Swedish Hockey League from 2004–2006.

Kopitar signed an entry-level contract with the Kings on 7 September 2005, but returned to play in Sweden for another season. The next year, 2006, he accepted an invitation to Los Angeles' rookie camp.

Kopitar made his NHL debut on 6 October 2006, against the Anaheim Ducks, scoring two goals in the game. Kopitar completed his first NHL season third among rookies in scoring, behind Evgeni Malkin and Paul Stastny, with 20 goals and 41 assists for 61 points.

For the next four seasons, Kopitar's offensive play would improve, and he would become among the team's best players. He also helped the team return to playoff form in 2009–10. The following season, after 75 games, Kopitar fractured his ankle, and would miss the 2011 playoffs as a result.

In the 2011–12 season, Kopitar led the Kings in scoring with 76 points, (25 goals and a career-best 51 assists) in all 82 games played. After defeating the back-to-back Presidents' Trophy-winning Vancouver Canucks in five games in the conference quarterfinals along with a conference semifinals sweep to the second-seeded St. Louis Blues and a five-game victory over the third-seeded Phoenix Coyotes in the conference finals of the 2012 playoffs, the Kings won the Stanley Cup as the playoff champions, by defeating the sixth-seeded New Jersey Devils in six games in the Stanley Cup Final for their first title in team history. Kopitar finished tied with Kings captain Dustin Brown to lead the team in playoff scoring, with each having 20 points (eight goals, 12 assists) from all 20 games played. Kopitar became the first Slovenian-born player to win the Stanley Cup.

The 2013–14 season saw the Kings as a team finish the season as the sixth seed in the West and Kopitar play all 82 games and individually lead the team in scoring for the seventh consecutive season, with 70 points (29 goals, 41 assists), and was named both the team's most valuable player and best defensive player. He also was a finalist for the Frank J. Selke Trophy as best defensive forward in the NHL for the first time, which was eventually awarded to Patrice Bergeron of the Boston Bruins. Kopitar's productivity throughout the 2014 playoffs led to him being a potential candidate for the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP (although the award eventually went to teammate Justin Williams).

Kopitar's stats would continue to rise as he remained a consistent contributor to the team, culminating in him being awarded the Frank J. Selke Trophy and Lady Byng Memorial Trophy at the end of the 2015–16 season.

On 16 June 2016, Kopitar was named the captain of the Kings, replacing Dustin Brown. In his first season as captain of the Kings, Kopitar saw his production drop, and he finished with 12 goals, 40 assists and 52 points in 76 contests, second on the team behind Jeff Carter's 66 points, and ending his nine-year streak of leading the team in scoring.

Kopitar returned to form in the 2017–18 season scoring a career-high 35 goals and 57 assists for 92 points in all 82 games played, helping the Kings get back to the playoffs. He scored his fourth career hat-trick with four goals on 22 March 2018, against the Colorado Avalanche. After the season, Kopitar was a finalist for the Hart Memorial Trophy (as the regular season MVP) for the first time and was awarded the Frank J. Selke Trophy for the second time in his career. Kopitar and the Kings would return to the playoffs after missing the year prior. In the 2018 playoffs, Kopitar recorded a goal and an assist as the Kings would be swept in the opening round to the Vegas Golden Knights.

Beginning in 2018–19, Kopitar would start recording milestones for the Kings, in assists, points, and games played, becoming the team's most decorated player by 2024–25.

On 18 September 2025, Kopitar announced that he would retire after the 2025–26 season. During that season, Kopitar became the 25th player in NHL history to play 1,500 regular season games. On 14 March 2026, Kopitar scored twice to get points 1307 and 1308, tying and breaking Marcel Dionne's record for the most career points in franchise history.

## References
## Other websites
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