Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar, a franchise nice who helped his group safe two Stanley Cup trophies between 2012 and 2014, introduced Thursday that he’ll retire on the finish of the 2025-26 NHL season. The upcoming season marks Kopitar’s twentieth and ultimate season as a participant, and the announcement of his retirement comes simply after his thirty eighth birthday.

Kopitar, who performed his total profession with the Kings, enters the ultimate season of a two-year contract extension that he signed in 2023 that has allowed him to affirm his legacy as one of many best gamers in franchise historical past. A two-way middle recognized for his defensive prowess particularly, Kopitar is the Kings’ all-time chief in video games performed (1,454) and assists (838) and sits simply 30 factors away from surpassing Marcel Dionne because the group’s all-time main scorer (Dionne’s file is 1,307 factors). Final yr, Kopitar completed second on the Kings with 67 factors and ice-time (18:57), and tied for the group lead with seven game-winning targets.

The Kings selected Kopitar with the No. 11-overall choose within the 2005 NHL Draft, changing into a nationwide hero in Slovenia when he turned the primary Slovenian to play within the NHL upon his debut in 2006-07. He has since turn into a pillar of the Kings franchise, along with his best contribution coming as a key member of their Stanley Cup-winning groups in 2012 and 2014. He has additionally earned huge respect across the league, as he has received the Selke Trophy twice (2016, 2018) and has additionally earned three Woman Byng Trophies for gentlemanly play, two of which have come within the final three seasons in 2023 and 2025.