Kopitar 'very happy' in retirement after storied NHL career

TRENCIN, Slovakia -- When Anze Kopitar spoke about former Boston Bruins' captain Zdeno Chara following his farewell tribute game at Pavol Demitra Ice Stadium in Trencin, Slovakia, he used words that might also perfectly suit himself.

"A great person and a champion. He's always so humble, he's always a team guy," Kopitar said about the Slovak great after Friday's game dubbed 'Zee's Final Shift.'

The Los Angeles Kings center, who retired this spring following 20 seasons in the NHL, means even more for Slovenia than Chara meant for Slovakia. The Jesenice native was one of just two Slovenians to ever play in the NHL, with Jan Mursak being the other. Mursak played 46 games in three seasons as a forward for the Detroit Red Wings from 2010 to 2013, scoring four points (two goals, two assists) in his career.

Kopitar has played for Los Angeles since it drafted him with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2005 NHL Draft. The team's captain since 2016, he helped lead the Kings to two Stanley Cup wins in 2012 and 2014. He won the Selke Trophy, awarded annually to the top defensive forward in the League, in 2016 and 2018, and the Lady Byng Trophy, awarded annually to the NHL player who displays the best sportsmanship while playing at a high skill level, three times (2016, 2023, 2025).

His 1,316 points (452 goals, 864 assists) in 1,521 games are the most in Kings' history; he surpassed Marcel Dionne (1,307 points; 550 goals, 757 assists in 921 games) for that milestone on March 14. One day shy of 39 years old, Kopitar also had 89 points (27 goals, 62 assists) in 107 playoff games.

On Friday, he was one of the fitter participants on the ice as Bruins forward David Pastrnak was the only active NHL player at the event.

"If I look fresh, trust me, I did not feel fresh. It's definitely the end," Kopitar stated.

Los Angeles' all-time leader in games played, assists and points, Kopitar played his last NHL game on April 26 against the Colorado Avalanche. The Kings lost the game 5-1, and were swept by the Avalanche in the best-of-7 Western Conference First Round series of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. While his former teammates are gearing up for the season, Kopitar is glad he can spend more time with his family.

"I am very happy," Kopitar said about his retirement. "It's great. Obviously, I get to spend a lot more time with my family. I get to go (watch my) kids ... My son's hockey tournament, my daughter's figure skating competition. So there is still life in ice arenas, but I'm enjoying it very much."

Family keeps him so busy that he could not even stay in Trencin on Saturday, when Chara had planned either a golf competition or a cycling trip for his guests.

"I'm flying (home) tomorrow," Kopitar said Friday. "I've got to go home, there is some family stuff that we have going on Sunday."

Kopitar ranks 23rd in NHL history in games played and 38th in scoring. He will have his No. 11 retired and a bronze statue unveiled by the Kings in a ceremony at Crypto.com Arena prior to their game against the Montreal Canadiens on Feb. 24, 2027.

Kopitar will become the eighth Los Angeles player to have his number retired, joining Rogie Vachon (No. 30), Marcel Dionne (No. 16), Dave Taylor (No. 18), Wayne Gretzky (No. 99), Luc Robitaille (No. 20), Rob Blake (No. 4) and Dustin Brown (No. 23).

Kopitar's bronze statue will join those of Gretzky, Robitaille and Brown as the fourth Kings statue, along with broadcaster Bob Miller.

Although he has enjoyed success in the NHL, it was harder for Kopitar to achieve similar accomplishments on the international stage. The only exception, however, was the 2016 World Cup of Hockey in Toronto, an international best-on-best ice hockey tournament. Kopitar played alongside Chara, defenseman Roman Josi (Sweden) and forwards Leon Draisaitl (Germany), Marian Hossa (Slovakia) and Mats Zuccarello (Norway) on Team Europe, which advanced to the final series and was ultimately swept by Team Canada in the best-of-three final.

"For me, the World Cup was something special," Kopitar, who served as Team Europe's captain, said. "Playing with Zdeno, with Hossa, Zuccarello, all those guys you always play against and then for a little bit you play with them. It was very fun."