The Los Angeles Kings will need to elect a new captain soon as Anze Kopitar is retiring after this season.
Kopitar announced his decision last Thursday in El Segundo, Calif. stating that it was not an easy decision, but rather a necessary one.
“After last season, I had a bit of time over the last few months to think and to talk to the family to see where the path is for me and where it’s going, and after lots and lots of thinking, I’ve decided that this year is going to be my last year playing in the NHL. With a heavy heart obviously, I’ve accepted that decision,” said Kopitar.
The 38-year-old has spent his entire career with the Kings since he was drafted in 2005. Kopitar became the first Slovene to play in the NHL when he made his debut in 2006. Over the years he has made a lasting impact on the Kings, leading the franchise in games played (1,454). In the past four years, Kopitar has only missed three games.
Kopitar announced his retirement during the second day of training camp for the Kings, “I just want to get this out of the way now to where I’m not a distraction for the team. For example, if we’re in a fight coming down the stretch, the last thing I want to do is to take any attention from the team and put it on myself. I just felt this is the best time.”
Kopitar helped the Kings win the Stanley cup in both 2012 and 2014 and was later named captain in the summer of 2016. He was a key player in both playoff appearances and tied teammate Dustin Brown for goals scored (eight) in 2012. Just two years later, he led all players with 26 points and 21 assists.
Last regular season, Kopitar had 67 points, coming from his 21 goals and 46 assists in the King’s 81 games. In his last year, Kopitar is expected to score above 20 goals and around 70 points, according to ESPN statisticians.
This season, Kopitar will play alongside returning teammates right winger Adrian Kempe and left winger Trevor Moore. The past few years, the Kings have struggled to make it past the
Edmonton Oilers in the playoffs and this offseason they added some depth to their roster to hopefully get past the hump.
New to the team are right wingers Corey Perry and Joel Armia and defensemen Cody Ceci, among others. Perry, Armia and Ceci will join returning forwards Samuel Helenius, Jeff Malott and Alex Turcotte creating a good depth for the Kings’ upcoming season.
The Los Angeles Kings’ first game of the regular season will take place on Oct. 7 when they face off against the Colorado Avalanche. The Kings won their first preseason game on Sunday when they defeated the Anaheim Ducks 3-1.
As is every player’s goal entering a new season, winning the Stanley Cup is the main focus, and so is Kopitar’s.
“I’m looking extremely forward to this next season, I have a lot of motivation, I have a lot of energy, a lot of desire to compete at the very highest level,” Kopitar said. “And the moves that we’ve made, the moves that [general manager] Ken [Holland] made, I think we’re a better team than we were last year and I just cannot wait to get going.”