Anze Kopitar Has Meant Everything For 20 Seasons

The other day, I was watching Moneyball. One scene that stood out was the one where the two scouts met with Billy Beane at his home, accompanied by his mother. The scouts are trying to convince Billy to play professional baseball for the New York Mets instead of attending Stanford on a full scholarship to play baseball there, as the scouts believe he has superstar potential. 

If you haven’t seen the movie, Billy never reached his full potential as a superstar the scouts believed he could be, but that’s not the point of the scene. The main takeaway I got from that scene was one of the scouts telling Beane that “We are all told at some point in time, Billy, that we can no longer play the children’s game… Some of us are told at 18. Some of us are told at 40, but we are all told.”

That quote has always stuck with me. Every athlete knows when their time has come to call it a career. Some are fortunate to do it on their terms; others, not so much. Today, that time came for LA Kings captain Anze Kopitar. The long-time King announced today in a ‘major announcement’ that his 20th season with the only organization he has ever known will be his last, and he did it on his own terms.

“[My wife and kids], who are sitting here with me, have been with me for the past 20-plus years. Now, they deserve a husband and a dad to be home and present,” Kopitar stated when announcing this year would be his last playing in the NHL. Kopitar also added that his “mind is made up.”

When asked if he consulted with any teammates before making his decision, he said he spoke to long-time teammate Dustin Brown. “He’s always been the voice of reason. Quite frankly, he was surprised I signed two more years. That was the comment that solidified my decision,” Kopitar stated.

While Kopitar and his family have been on this amazing journey with him during his illustrious career, he has meant so much to the Kings and the fan base. He played a pivotal role in the team’s rebuild that began with then-general manager Dave Taylor at the helm in the early 2000s. A two-time Stanley Cup champion, a three-time Lady Byng winner, a two-time Selke winner, a winner of the Mark Messier Leadership award, and a five-time all-star. 

But that is not all.

He is also the franchise leader in games played, assists, and total goals on ice for. He could even take the crown for the all-time points leader in franchise history by the end of the year. Kopitar is also top five in other franchise categories, such as goals, plus/minus, even-strength goals, power-play goals, and short-handed goals.

There is no doubt that he is a franchise icon and should be on the Kings’ Mount Rushmore if there is one. His personal and franchise accolades should earn him a call to the Hall of Fame. Now that we know the curtain will close on his illustrious career when the Kings’ season is over, enjoy it. We may never see another player like him don a Kings uniform. Today, tomorrow, and forever, he is the greatest LA King of all time.

Kopitar’s retirement marks the second athlete in Los Angeles to call it a career. The Dodgers announced Clayton Kershaw will retire at the end of the 2025 season earlier today. 

“It’s perfect for me. Now I can fly under the radar,” Kopitar said on announcing his retirement on the same day Clayton Kershaw, an all-time great for the Dodgers, announced his.

That will not be the case for Kopitar as the season progresses. It might be a sad farewell tour, but a well-deserved one.

Thank you, Kopi, for being the king of Kings.