Kings celebrate Kopitar’s franchise points record with special pregame ceremony

Anze Kopitar received the royal treatment in Los Angeles on Thursday.

The Los Angeles Kings celebrated their captain for becoming the franchise’s all-time leading scorer with a special pregame ceremony before the team’s game against the Nashville Predators at Crypto.com Arena.

On March 14, Kopitar passed Marcel Dionne as the Kings all-time points leader when he notched two goals, for his 1,307th and 1,308th career point, against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center.

Kopitar’s wife, Ines, and kids, Neza and Jakob, parents, brother, sister-in-law and nieces joined him on the ice for the celebration.

Kings president Luc Robitaille, former Kings star and general manager Dave Taylor, and former teammates Alec Martinez and Jarret Stoll also attended the ceremony.

A special video featuring actor Isaiah Mustafa breaking down Kopitar’s historic achievement aired on the arena video board.

After the video, 1,308 foam pucks fell from the arena rafters onto the ice to signify the record.

Robitaille presented the Kings captain with a golden stick to commemorate the career achievement. A special portrait of Kopitar lifting the Stanley Cup was also gifted to the veteran.

Before the celebration, Neza and Jakob hung out on the Kings bench during warmups.

The ceremony coincided with the team’s “Anze Kopitar Legacy Night” celebrating the veteran forward’s 20-year career with the Kings. Fans in attendance received special visor glasses and a Kopitar-inspired jersey.

Kopitar is set to retire at the end of the season after 20 seasons in the NHL, all played with the Kings. He won two Stanley Cups with Los Angeles in 2012 and 2014. The veteran forward has served as the franchise’s captain since 2016.