Kopitar, 38, recently completed his 20th – and final – NHL season, all with the Kings, where he accumulated 1,316 points (452-864=1,316) across 1,521 regular-season games, the most in franchise history. Kopitar’s 1,521 regular-season games are the 23rd-most in league history and the seventh-most played with a single franchise.
On March 14, 2026 in New Jersey, Kopitar was crowned as the all-time leading scorer in Kings history by posting his 1,307th and 1,308th career points. With his pair of goals in that game, Kopitar broke the record that had been held by Marcel Dionne (550-757=1,307) for more than 45 years. In doing so, he became the eighth player to hold the title. Just over a week prior, on March 5, Kopitar was the 25th different player in league history to skate in 1,500 career games and the ninth to do so with a single franchise.
The Jesenice, Slovenia native, ranks in the top-three of nearly every regular-season statistical category in Kings history, including first in seasons played (20), games played (1,521), assists (864), even-strength points (831), game-winning goals (79), overtime points (34) and face-off wins (15,237); second in plus/minus (+127), power-play points (457), overtime goals (9) and shots (3,429); third in goals (452), even-strength goals (309) and power-play goals (129).
He has led the Kings in points 15 times (most recently in 2022-23), the third-most seasons as points leader for one franchise in NHL history behind only Gordie Howe (17x w/ DET) and Sidney Crosby (16x w/ PIT). The trio are also three of only four players in league history to have at least 15 seasons as any team’s points leader, along with Wayne Gretzky (19x total; 9x w/ EDM, 7x w/ LAK, 3x w/ NYR). Kopitar (15x), Dionne (9x) and Gretzky (7x) make up the top-three on that list for Kings franchise history.
Selected 11th overall in the 2005 NHL Draft, Kopitar scored his first two career goals in his NHL debut on Oct. 6, 2006 in Anaheim. He went on to collect four more points over the next two games to become just second Kings player to record six points within the first three games of his career, and only the then-22nd to do so in NHL history. After positing 13 points during the month of October, Kopitar finished his rookie season with 61 points (20-41-61) in 72 games. He became the fifth rookie in team history – and the first in 20 years – to record 60 points in a season. No Kings rookie has reached that mark since. The following season (2007-08) marked the first of Kopitar’s 15 seasons leading the team in scoring with 77 points (32-45=77). He was named alternate captain prior to the 2008-09 campaign.
After earning his first NHL All-Star selection in 2008, Anze Kopitar emerged as the face of the Kings franchise, helping lead Los Angeles back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2010 after an eight-year absence. He delivered several of the biggest goals of his career in the postseason, including overtime winners in the 2010 First Round and Game 1 of the 2012 Stanley Cup Final, while establishing himself as one of the NHL's premier two-way centers and faceoff specialists.
Named the Kings captain in 2016, Kopitar became synonymous with leadership, sportsmanship and consistency. He led the team to six Stanley Cup Playoff appearances (2018, 2021-26) during his time as captain, including each of the final five seasons of his career. In addition to the numerous regular-season records, Kopitar also owns many of the franchise’s playoff records, including games played (1st; 107), goals (3rd; 27), assists (2nd; 62), points (t-2nd; 89), game-winning goals (t-2nd; 5) and power-play points (3rd; 30).
Kopitar’s trophy case includes two Stanley Cup rings (2012 & 2014), two Selke Trophies (2015-16 & 2017-18), three Lady Byng Memorial Trophies (2015-16, 2022-23 & 2024-25) and the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award (2021-22). Only Wayne Gretzky (7) has earned more individual NHL Awards while playing with the Kings than Kopitar (6).
Among team awards, Kopitar has earned 25 different team honors, including the Bill Libby Award for “Most Valuable Player” nine times (2007-08, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2013-14, 2015-16, 2017-18, 2019-20, 2020-21, 2022-23), Best Defensive Player eight times (2010-11, 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15, 2017-18, 2022-23, 2023-24, 2025-26), the Ace Bailey Memorial Award for “Most Inspirational Player” four times (2019-20, 2020-21, 2024-25, 2025-26), Most Popular Player three times (2006-07, 2010-11, 2020-21) and the Mark Bavis Memorial Award for “Best Newcomer” in 2006-07.
Beyond his accomplishments on the ice, Kopitar made a lasting impact throughout the Los Angeles community as a longtime supporter of Children's Hospital Los Angeles and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He also played a leading role in growing youth hockey across Southern California through his continued involvement with the Kings and local hockey initiatives.
Kopitar’s bronze statue is being created by renowned sculptors Julie Rotblatt Amrany and Omri Amrany. It will join statues honoring Wayne Gretzky, Luc Robitaille, Dustin Brown, Bob Miller, Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Oscar De La Hoya, Chick Hearn, Jerry West, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O'Neal, Elgin Baylor, Kobe Bryant, Kobe and Gigi Bryant, and Pat Riley in Crypto.com Arena's Star Plaza along Chick Hearn Court.
