Longtime Kings center Anže Kopitar plans to retire from the NHL following the 2025-26 season, he announced on Thursday evening.
Kopitar, 38, is a five-time NHL All-Star and a two-time Stanley Cup champion. He has won two Selke Awards—given to the league's top defensive forward in a given season—and three Lady Byng Memorial Trophies—given to the player who exhibits "the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability."
Anze Kopitar has announced that he will be retiring from the NHL after this season. 👑
— NHL (@NHL) September 18, 2025
✔️ The first player from Slovenia to play in the NHL
✔️ 2 Stanley Cups
✔️ 2 Frank J. Selke Trophies
✔️ 3 Lady Byng Memorial Trophy
✔️ 1 Mark Messier Leadership Award
✔️ 5 All-Star Game… pic.twitter.com/lTy1znKsSx
The Kings drafted Kopitar with the 11th pick in the 2005 NHL draft and, upon his debut in 2006, became the first Slovenian player in league history. He's since spent the entirety of his career in L.A., becoming the franchise's second leading scorer. Kopitar was named team captain of the Kings ahead of the 2016-17 season—a title he's held ever since.
Coming off of a 48-25-9 season and a first-round loss to the Edmonton Oilers in the postseason, the Kings open up the 2025-26 campaign on Tuesday, Oct. 7 against the Colorado Avalanche.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Longtime L.A. Kings Captain Anže Kopitar to Retire After 2025-26 Season.
