Kings Captain Anze Kopitar to Retire After 20 Seasons

LOS ANGELES, California – Anze Kopitar, the Los Angeles Kings captain, received a heartfelt ovation from fans during player introductions on Tuesday night, marking what is expected to be his final home opener at Crypto.com Arena. The Kings played against the Colorado Avalanche in a match that celebrated Kopitar’s illustrious career as he begins his 20th NHL season.

In September, Kopitar announced he would retire at the end of this season, drawing on two decades of play since being drafted by the Kings with the 11th pick in the 2005 NHL Draft. During his tenure, he has led the Kings to two Stanley Cup victories in 2012 and 2014.

Kopitar has been recognized as one of the league’s top players, winning the Selke Trophy as the best defensive forward in both 2016 and 2018. He became the Kings’ captain in June 2016, cementing his role as a leader on the team. Notably, he is also the first player from Slovenia to play in the NHL, paving the way for future athletes from his country.

In a related highlight, the Kings debuted a new alternate jersey before puck drop on Tuesday. The team’s outfit change featured a crown design inspired by the original franchise logo from 1967. Accompanied by metallic silver helmets, the new look was primarily showcased during warm-ups before the players returned for the game in their traditional uniforms.

As fans cheered enthusiastically for the captain, the atmosphere inside the arena was electric, capturing the admiration of the LA community for Kopitar’s impactful career in hockey.