Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar. Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Anze Kopitar becomes Kings royalty, breaks franchise all-time record

By Mike J. Asti | Last updated Mar 15, 2026 12:09 AM ET

As his career approaches its final days, Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar made sure to cross finishing at the top of an important all-time list off before going into retirement.

The moment happened on Saturday night when Kopitar made himself even more of a franchise icon in a game against the New Jersey Devils, the same franchise the Kings defeated for their first Stanley Cup win in 2012.

With his second goal of the night, Kopitar passed Marcel Dionne to become the Kings' all-time leading scorer.

Anze Kopitar breaks Kings record

Kopitar, 38, now has 1,308 career points, all with the Kings, giving him one more than Dionne, who spent 12 out of his 18 NHL seasons in Los Angeles from 1975-87.

Kopitar's historic goal came with about six minutes left in the third period as the Kings' bench immediately spilled on the ice to celebrate with their captain.

ANŽE KOPITAR IS THE LA KINGS ALL-TIME SCORING LEADER!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/klGlRj9jkZ
— LA Kings (@LAKings) March 15, 2026

The record-breaker tied the game, though the Devils would spoil the night by scoring twice in the final minutes en route to their 6-4 win.

Kopitar now has 10 goals and 30 points in 51 games throughout 2025-26, which was announced as his last in the NHL before the season.

Anze Kopitar and Marcel Dionne reached their totals in different ways

And with 16 games left in the Kings' season and Kopitar's career, the new record holder has 450 goals and 858 assists. That's in contrast to Dionne, who reached his mark with 550 goals and 757 assists while a member of the Kings. Dionne, sixth all-time in total points in NHL history, finished his career with 731 goals and 1,040 assists for 1,771 points.

KING OF KINGS. pic.twitter.com/7lQ4eYTfzm
— LA Kings (@LAKings) March 15, 2026

But even though the Kings franchise has been home to legendary hockey names like Dionne, Wayne Gretzky and Luc Robitaille, it's Kopitar who sits above them all.

Anze Kopitar is destined for the Hall of Fame

The record-breaking performance only adds to Kopitar's overall resume, one that's assured to land him in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

A five-time All-Star and two-time Stanley Cup champion, Kopitar is also three-time winner of the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship and a two-time Selke Trophy recipient due to his two-way play.

Mike J. Asti

Mike Asti is an experienced media personality and journalist with a vast resume and skillset, most notably from time with TribLIVE Radio and WPXI-TV. Asti now serves as the Managing Editor of WV Sports Now, where he leads the coverage of WVU sports. He has also covered the Steelers, Penguins, Pirates and other teams within the Pittsburgh market

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