Anže Kopitar (, born 24 August 1987) is a Slovenian professional
ice hockey
Ice hockey (or simply hockey in North America) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an Ice rink, ice skating rink with Ice hockey rink, lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. Tw ...
centre and
captain of the
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles. The Kings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. ...
of the
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...
(NHL). The 11th overall pick in the
2005 NHL entry draft, Kopitar became the first Slovene to play in the NHL upon making his debut in
2006. Kopitar has spent his entire NHL career with the Kings, has led the team in scoring in all but four seasons and is second in franchise history in points, third in goals, and first in assists. He scored his 1,000th career point in 2021. Following the
2015–16 season, he was named the Kings' captain. Noted for both his offensive and defensive play, Kopitar was awarded the
Frank J. Selke Trophy as the best defensive forward in the NHL in
2016
2016 was designated as:
* International Year of Pulses by the sixty-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly.
* International Year of Global Understanding (IYGU) by the International Council for Science (ICSU), the Internationa ...
, as well as the
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for gentlemanly play the same year. He won the Selke Trophy a second time in
2018
Events January
* January 1 – Bulgaria takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, after the Estonian presidency.
* January 4 – SPLM-IO rebels loyal to Chan Garang Lual start a raid against Juba, capital of ...
and the Lady Byng Trophy in
2023
Catastrophic natural disasters in 2023 included the Lists of 21st-century earthquakes, 5th-deadliest earthquake of the 21st century 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquakes, striking Turkey and Syria, leaving up to 62,000 people dead; Cyclone Freddy ...
and
2025
So far, the year has seen the continuation of major armed conflicts, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Sudanese civil war (2023–present), Sudanese civil war, and the Gaza war. Internal crises in Bangladesh post-resignation v ...
.
Kopitar played
junior hockey for his hometown team
HK Acroni Jesenice before moving to Sweden at age 16 to play in a more competitive league. He spent one season with the junior teams of the
Södertälje SK organization, and then with the senior team of the top-level
Elitserien. He moved to North America to join the Kings in 2006, one year after he was drafted, and finished fourth in the
Calder Memorial Trophy
The Calder Memorial Trophy is an annual award given "to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National Hockey League (NHL)." It is named after Frank Calder, the first president of the NHL. Serving ...
voting for the league's top rookie. Kopitar's offensive talent was immediately apparent when he joined the Kings, while his defensive style developed in later seasons and he has become recognized for his two-way play, being a finalist for the Selke Trophy four times and winning twice. In 2018, he was a finalist for the
Hart Memorial Trophy. He also exemplified great gentlemanly play, being nominated for the
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy three times and winning twice. Praised as one of the best players in the NHL, Kopitar won the
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup () is the championship trophy awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) playoff champion. It is the oldest existing trophy to be awarded to a professional sports franchise in North America, and the International Ic ...
with the Kings in
2012
2012 was designated as:
*International Year of Cooperatives
*International Year of Sustainable Energy for All
Events January
*January 4 – The Cicada 3301 internet hunt begins.
* January 12 – Peaceful protests begin in the R ...
and
2014
The year 2014 was marked by the surge of the Western African Ebola epidemic, West African Ebola epidemic, which began in 2013, becoming the List of Ebola outbreaks, most widespread outbreak of the Ebola, Ebola virus in human history, resul ...
, leading the playoffs in points on both occasions (tied with teammate
Dustin Brown in 2012). Internationally, Kopitar has represented the
Slovenian national team in several
junior and
senior tournaments, as well as at the
2014 Winter Olympics in
Sochi
Sochi ( rus, Сочи, p=ˈsotɕɪ, a=Ru-Сочи.ogg, from – ''seaside'') is the largest Resort town, resort city in Russia. The city is situated on the Sochi (river), Sochi River, along the Black Sea in the North Caucasus of Souther ...
. He also played for
Team Europe at the
2016 World Cup of Hockey.
Playing career
European career (2002–2006)
In 2002, Kopitar began playing for the youth team of his hometown,
HK Acroni Jesenice. He split the year between the team's under-18 and junior clubs, and also appeared in 11 games for the senior team
HK Kranjska Gora
Hokejski klub Kranjska Gora (), commonly referred to as HK Kranjska Gora or simply Kranjska Gora, was an ice hockey team from Kranjska Gora, Slovenia. The club played in both the Yugoslav Ice Hockey League and the Slovenian Hockey League.
History ...
of the
Slovenian Ice Hockey League. Kopitar had four goals and four assists in the senior league, and recorded 76 points in 14 games for the Jesenice under-18 team and 27 points in 20 games for the junior club. He led the Slovenian Ice Hockey League in scoring at the age of 16, and Swedish scout Lars Söder recruited Kopitar for the
Elitserien in 2004 (Söder had originally discovered Kopitar when he was 13 at the
2001 European Youth Olympic Winter Festival in
Vuokatti, Finland).
The Slovenian Ice Hockey League did not have a high enough skill level, so Kopitar decided that if he wanted to improve his career prospects, he would have to leave the country.
He was offered a chance to play in Sweden for
Södertälje SK, eventually joining their junior team where he led the League in scoring, with 49 points (28 goals, 21 assists) in 30 games. At 17, prior to the
2005 NHL entry draft, Kopitar was ranked the top European skater by the
NHL Central Scouting Bureau.
After his first season in Sweden, he was chosen 11th overall by the
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles. The Kings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. ...
in the 2005 Draft. Unlike most top-ranked prospects, Kopitar was not at the draft, but in Sweden playing in preseason games. Some members of the team had a party for the draft, including
Niclas Bergfors, who was selected 23rd overall by the
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The club w ...
.
Prior to the NHL Draft, Kopitar was also selected in the
CHL Import Draft by the
Regina Pats of the
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League (WHL) is a junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitutes the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) as the highest level of junior hocke ...
(WHL). At 18 years of age, he declined to move to North America, however, hoping to further his development by continuing to play against professionals in the Elitserien, rather than against
major junior
Junior ice hockey is amateur-level ice hockey for 16 to 20 year-old players. National List of members of the International Ice Hockey Federation, Junior teams compete annually for the IIHF World Junior Championship. The United States men's nationa ...
players in the WHL.
Los Angeles Kings (2006–present)
Kopitar signed an entry-level contract with the Kings on 7 September 2005, but returned to play in Sweden for another season. The next year, 2006, he accepted an invitation to Los Angeles' rookie camp.
Early career and establishment (2006–2010)
Kopitar made his NHL debut on 6 October 2006, against the
Anaheim Ducks, scoring two goals in the game.
In January 2007, he was named to the
NHL YoungStars Game, an event included at the
All-Star Game festivities; Kopitar recorded two goals and three assists.
Kopitar completed his first NHL season third among rookies in scoring, behind
Evgeni Malkin and
Paul Šťastný, with 20 goals and 41 assists for 61 points. It marked the fifth-highest point total by a Kings rookie, and the highest since
Luc Robitaille in
1986–87.
He finished fourth in voting for the
Calder Memorial Trophy
The Calder Memorial Trophy is an annual award given "to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National Hockey League (NHL)." It is named after Frank Calder, the first president of the NHL. Serving ...
as rookie of the year. Kopitar was awarded the Mark Bavis Memorial Award as the best first-year member of the Kings and was also named the Kings' Most Popular Player.

The following season,
2007–08, Kopitar was selected to represent the
Western Conference at the
56th NHL All-Star Game in
Atlanta
Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...
, his first all-star game appearance. He was the youngest player in the game, nearly two years younger than the second-youngest player, Paul Stastny (
Sidney Crosby was younger, but had to withdraw prior to the game due to injury).
Kopitar finished the regular season with 32 goals and 45 assists for 77 points; he led the Kings in assists and points and was second in goals.
Kopitar won the
Bill Libby Memorial Award as the most valuable player on the Kings.
Early in the
2008–09 season, on 11 October 2008, Kopitar signed a seven-year contract extension with the Kings worth $47.6 million. The contract would keep Kopitar with the team until the conclusion of the
2015–16 season. He finished the season with 27 goals and 39 assists for 66 points in all 82 games, leading the Kings in both assists and points, while again finishing second in goals scored.
[''2015–16 Los Angeles Kings Media Guide'', p. 48]
The
following season, Kopitar scored his first career NHL
hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick is the achievement of a generally positive feat three times in a match, or another achievement based on the number three.
Origin
The term first appeared in 1858 in cricket, to describe H. H. Stephenson taking three Wick ...
(three goals in one game) on 22 October 2009 against the
Dallas Stars. He finished the 2009–10 season with a career-high 34 goals, 47 assists and 81 points in all 82 contests played. For the second time in his career, Kopitar won the Bill Libby Memorial Award as the Kings' most valuable player, and led the team in scoring for the third-straight year. as the Kings qualified for the postseason for the first time since
2002 having finished the season as the sixth seed in the West. Kopitar made his
Stanley Cup playoff debut on 15 April 2010, in the first game of the opening round against the third-seeded
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver. The Canucks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conferenc ...
where the Kings lost the game 3–2 and recorded his first career playoff assist and point on a goal by
Jarret Stoll. Two days later in game two of the series, Kopitar recorded his first career playoff goal against Canucks' goaltender
Roberto Luongo as the Kings would go on to win the game 3–2 to even the series at 1–1. The Kings would go on to lose in the Western Conference quarterfinals in six games to the Canucks and Kopitar finished tied for third on the team with five points in six games.
Stanley Cup championships (2010–2015)
The
2010–11 season saw Kopitar play in his 325th consecutive NHL game, which set a new Kings team record, passing
Marcel Dionne on 15 March 2011. However eleven days later, Kopitar's season and
ironman streak came to an abrupt end at 330 games after he suffered a broken ankle in a game against the
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche (colloquially known as the Avs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver. The Avalanche compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Con ...
. Despite the injury setback and missing the final seven regular season games and the playoffs, Kopitar led the team in scoring for the fourth straight season with 73 points (25 goals, 48 assists), and was named the team's most valuable player for the second time while the Kings as a team finished the season as the seventh seed in the Western Conference. In Kopitar's absence, the Kings would go on to lose in the opening round of the
2011 playoffs in six games to the second-seeded
San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California. The Sharks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Con ...
.
In the
2011–12 season, Kopitar led the Kings in scoring with 76 points, (25 goals and a career-best 51 assists) in all 82 games played. After the defeating the back-to-back
Presidents' Trophy-winning
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver. The Canucks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conferenc ...
in five games in the conference quarterfinals along with a conference semifinals sweep to the
St. Louis Blues and a five-game victory over the
Phoenix Coyotes
The Arizona Coyotes are an inactive professional ice hockey team based in the Phoenix metropolitan area. They competed in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division (1996–1998, 2021–2024) and ...
in the conference finals of the
2012 playoffs, the Kings won the
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup () is the championship trophy awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) playoff champion. It is the oldest existing trophy to be awarded to a professional sports franchise in North America, and the International Ic ...
as the playoff champions, by defeating the
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The club w ...
in six games in the
Stanley Cup Finals
The Stanley Cup Finals in ice hockey (also known as the Stanley Cup Final among various media, ) is the annual championship series of the National Hockey League (NHL). The winner is awarded the Stanley Cup, North America's oldest professional spo ...
for their first title in team history. Kopitar finished tied with Kings captain
Dustin Brown to lead the team in playoff scoring, with each having 20 points (eight goals, 12 assists) from all 20 games played. Kopitar became the first Slovenian-born player to win the Stanley Cup.
In recognition of this, Kopitar was named as the 2012 Slovenian male Athlete of the Year.
The
2012–13 NHL season was delayed due to the
NHL lockout, so Kopitar joined his younger brother
Gašper on
Mora IK of the Swedish second-tier league
HockeyAllsvenskan, signing a contract with the team for the 2012–13 season. He played 31 games for Mora, scoring 34 points, before the NHL lockout ended in January 2013. A shortened, 48-game NHL season commenced, Kopitar recorded 10 goals, and 32 assists for 42 points in 47 games to once again lead the Kings in scoring, and was named the team's best defensive player.
[''2015–16 Los Angeles Kings Media Guide'', p. 69–70] Kopitar and the Kings would go on another lengthy playoff run as the defending champions but unable to defend their title as they lost in five games to the Presidents' Trophy-winning and eventual Stanley Cup champion
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks (spelled Black Hawks until 1986, and known colloquially as the Hawks) are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago. The Blackhawks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (N ...
. Kopitar finished the 2013 playoffs by playing in all 18 games with three goals and six assists for nine points recorded.
The
2013–14 season saw the Kings as a team finish the season as the sixth seed in the West and Kopitar play all 82 games and individually lead the team in scoring for the seventh consecutive season, with 70 points (29 goals, 41 assists), and was named both the team's most valuable player and best defensive player. He also was a finalist for the
Frank J. Selke Trophy as best defensive
forward in the NHL for the first time, which was eventually awarded to
Patrice Bergeron of the
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The t ...
.
In the
2014 playoffs, Kopitar led the entire league in scoring, recording five goals and 21 assists for 26 points in all 26 games, as the Kings won their second Stanley Cup championship in three seasons and second in franchise history altogether after they defeated the third-seeded San Jose Sharks in seven games in the first round (after initially trailing 3–0 earlier in the series), the top-seeded
Anaheim Ducks in the second round in seven games (after initially trailing 3–2 earlier in the series) and the defending Stanley Cup champion and fifth-seeded Chicago Blackhawks in the third round in seven games prior to defeating the fifth seed
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York City. The Rangers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team plays ...
in five games in the
Stanley Cup Finals
The Stanley Cup Finals in ice hockey (also known as the Stanley Cup Final among various media, ) is the annual championship series of the National Hockey League (NHL). The winner is awarded the Stanley Cup, North America's oldest professional spo ...
. Kopitar's productivity throughout the 2014 playoffs led to him being a potential candidate for the
Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP (although the award eventually went to teammate
Justin Williams).
Despite the defending Stanley Cup champion Kings not qualifying for the
2015 playoffs, The
2014–15 campaign saw Kopitar continue his individual dominance and tie Marcel Dionne as he became the only player in Kings history to lead the team in scoring eight times, having scored 16 goals and 48 assists for 64 points in 79 games. Kopitar was a finalist for the Selke Trophy again (although it was eventually given to Patrice Bergeron again), and also for the
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, awarded for sportsmanship (which was eventually awarded
Jiri Hudler of the
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary. The Flames compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. The ...
.
Selke Trophy wins, start of captaincy (2015–2021)

During the
2015–16 season Kopitar signed an eight-year contract extension with the Kings. It would pay him an average of $10 million per season until the end of the 2023–24 season. He finished the season with 25 goals, 49 assists and 74 points, setting a team record by leading the Kings in scoring for a ninth consecutive season and the Kings would get back into the
playoffs
The playoffs, play-offs, postseason or finals of a sports league are a competition played after the regular season by the top competitors to determine the league champion or a similar accolade. Depending on the league, the playoffs may be eithe ...
where they would lose in five games in the first round to the
San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California. The Sharks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Con ...
. Kopitar also was awarded both the
Lady Byng Trophy and
Frank J. Selke Trophy, the first player from the Kings to win either award. He also won the Bill Libby Memorial Award as the most valuable player on the Kings for the fifth time.
On 16 June 2016, Kopitar was named the captain of the Kings, replacing
Dustin Brown. In his
first season as captain of the Kings, Kopitar saw his production drop, and he finished with 12 goals, 40 assists and 52 points in 76 contests, second on the team behind
Jeff Carter's 66 points, and ending his nine-year streak of leading the team in scoring.
Kopitar returned to form in the
2017–18 season scoring a career-high 35 goals and 57 assists for 92 points in all 82 games played, helping the Kings get back to the playoffs. He scored his fourth career hat-trick with four goals on 22 March 2018, against the
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche (colloquially known as the Avs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver. The Avalanche compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Con ...
. After the season, Kopitar was a finalist for the
Hart Memorial Trophy (as the regular season MVP) for the first time and was awarded the
Frank J. Selke Trophy for the second time in his career. Kopitar and the Kings would return to the
playoffs
The playoffs, play-offs, postseason or finals of a sports league are a competition played after the regular season by the top competitors to determine the league champion or a similar accolade. Depending on the league, the playoffs may be eithe ...
after missing the year prior. In the 2018 playoffs, Kopitar recorded a goal and an assist as the Kings would be swept in the opening round to the
Vegas Golden Knights
The Vegas Golden Knights are a professional ice hockey team based in the Las Vegas Valley, Las Vegas metropolitan area. The Golden Knights compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division ...
.
On 5 January 2019, Kopitar recorded his 300th NHL goal in a 4–0 win against the
Edmonton Oilers on Oilers' goaltender
Cam Talbot. Towards the end of the
2018–19 season, on 1 April, in a 7–2 loss against the
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary. The Flames compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. The ...
, Kopitar played his 1,000th NHL game.
On 5 May 2021, towards the end of the
pandemic-shortened
2020–21 season, Kopitar recorded his
1,000th career point against the
Arizona Coyotes
The Arizona Coyotes are an inactive professional ice hockey team based in the Phoenix metropolitan area. They competed in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division (1996–1998, 2021–2024) and ...
on a
Sean Walker goal, becoming the 91st player to reach the mark.
Recent years (2021–present)
On 14 October 2021, Kopitar scored three goals and two assists against the
Vegas Golden Knights
The Vegas Golden Knights are a professional ice hockey team based in the Las Vegas Valley, Las Vegas metropolitan area. The Golden Knights compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division ...
, setting a franchise record for most points in a home opening game since
Jari Kurri did it back in 1991–92. However, Kopitar missed the 20-goal mark for the first time since the 2016–17 season (excluding the shortened 2020–21 season). He recorded his 700th career assist on a goal by
Adrian Kempe in the Kings' final home game of the season on 23 April 2022, a 4–2 win against the
Anaheim Ducks. Kopitar finished the
2021–22 season playing in 81 games with 67 points (19 goals, 48 assists) recorded as the Kings qualified for the
playoffs
The playoffs, play-offs, postseason or finals of a sports league are a competition played after the regular season by the top competitors to determine the league champion or a similar accolade. Depending on the league, the playoffs may be eithe ...
for the first time since 2018 where the Kings lost in the first round in seven games to the
Edmonton Oilers, surrendering a 3–2 series lead along the way. He was eventually awarded the
Mark Messier Leadership Award, becoming the second Kings player to win it after teammate
Dustin Brown in 2014.
On 9 January 2023, Kopitar recorded his 1,100th NHL point in a 6–3 win over the Edmonton Oilers with an assist on a
Kevin Fiala goal, becoming the third player in Kings history to reach the mark. Kopitar recorded his sixth career hat-trick on 28 February, scoring four goals in a 6–5 shootout victory against the
Winnipeg Jets
The Winnipeg Jets are a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg. The Jets compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. The te ...
. At the season's end, he would win his second
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, becoming the first Kings player since
Wayne Gretzky to win the award more than once.
The Kings re-signed Kopitar to a two-year contract extension on 6 July 2023. On 21 October, in a 4–2 loss to the
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The t ...
, Kopitar passed Dustin Brown as leader of games played in the Kings franchise history. Having an impressive start in the
2023–24 season, on 8 November, he scored his 400th NHL goal, which was also the game-winning goal, against the Vegas Golden Knights. On 3 December, Kopitar passed Marcel Dionne to become the all-time assists leader in Kings franchise history. On 20 March 2024, Kopitar recorded his 1,200th NHL point with an assist on a goal scored by Kevin Fiala in a 6–0 win over the
Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Wild compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Confer ...
. He finished the 2023–24 season with 26 goals and 44 assists for 70 points in 81 games along with one goal, two assists and three points in all five games in the
2024 playoffs as the Kings were defeated by the Edmonton Oilers in the opening round for a third consecutive year, this time in five games.
On 30 October 2024, Kopitar recorded his 800th career assist on a goal by Kevin Fiala in a 6–3 win over the Vegas Golden Knights, becoming the 35th player in league history to hit the mark. The
2024–25 season saw him record 21 goals and 46 assists for 67 points in 81 games, while taking only two minor penalties. Kopitar was named a finalist for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for the fourth time. On June 12, 2025, Kopitar was announced as the winner of the Lady Byng trophy, his third time earning the award.
International play
Kopitar first played in an international tournament when he participated in the Division I (second level) tournament of the
2003 IIHF World U18 Championships for the
Slovenian national junior team. He appeared in five games and recorded three points. The following year he appeared in the
2004 U18 tournament and the
2004 World Junior Championships. Slovenia competed in Division I at both tournaments, one level below the top division. Kopitar scored six goals and eight points in five games during the under-18 tournament and finished second overall for goals scored and third for points, leading Slovenia in both categories; at the World Juniors he had one goal and one assist in five games.
In 2005, Kopitar appeared in three international tournaments for Slovenia; he took part in the
U18 Championship,
World Juniors, and the senior
World Championship
A world championship is generally an international competition open to elite competitors from around the world, representing their nations, and winning such an event will be considered the highest or near highest achievement in the sport, game ...
, his first tournament with the
Slovenian national team.
Slovenia competed at the Division I level for both junior tournaments, but at the top level for the senior championship. He would play his last junior tournament in 2006 at the
Division I level, with six points in five games. At the
2006 World Championship he played for Slovenia at the top level and recorded three goals and nine points in six games, tying for fifth among scoring leaders. Slovenia was relegated to Division I for
2007
2007 was designated as the International Heliophysical Year and the International Polar Year.
Events
January
* January 1
**Bulgaria and Romania 2007 enlargement of the European Union, join the European Union, while Slovenia joins the Eur ...
, where Kopitar had 13 assists and 14 points, leading the tournament in both categories. Back in the top division for the
2008 IIHF World Championship, Kopitar appeared in five games and had four points to lead his team, though Slovenia was once again relegated.
Slovenia qualified for the
2014 Winter Olympics in
Sochi
Sochi ( rus, Сочи, p=ˈsotɕɪ, a=Ru-Сочи.ogg, from – ''seaside'') is the largest Resort town, resort city in Russia. The city is situated on the Sochi (river), Sochi River, along the Black Sea in the North Caucasus of Souther ...
; as the qualifying games were held during the NHL season Kopitar was unable to participate, though his father Matjaž coached the team and Gašper played in the matches. Though Gašper was part of the team that secured qualification for Slovenia, he was not named to the Olympic roster. Kopitar helped Slovenia reach the quarterfinals of the tournament by scoring two goals and one assist.
Kopitar was also named to play in the
2016 World Cup of Hockey for
Team Europe, which includes players from most of Europe (the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, and Sweden have their own teams). Prior to the announcement Kopitar had expressed excitement towards the concept, which was to be introduced during the tournament, noting that as a Slovenian he had few opportunities to play in tournaments like this.
Playing style
Kopitar is known in the NHL as one of the most effective
two-way forwards, excelling in both offence and defence, for which he has won the
Frank J. Selke Trophy in 2016 and 2018,
after being a finalist for the award in both 2014 and 2015. In addition to his defensive play, Kopitar has one of the highest career averages for winning
faceoffs, and has led the Kings in team scoring 14 times in his career.
Personal life
Kopitar was born in
Jesenice,
Slovenia
Slovenia, officially the Republic of Slovenia, is a country in Central Europe. It borders Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the northeast, Croatia to the south and southeast, and a short (46.6 km) coastline within the Adriati ...
(then part of
Yugoslavia
, common_name = Yugoslavia
, life_span = 1918–19921941–1945: World War II in Yugoslavia#Axis invasion and dismemberment of Yugoslavia, Axis occupation
, p1 = Kingdom of SerbiaSerbia
, flag_p ...
) to
Matjaž and Mateja Kopitar. Matjaž played hockey for
HK Acroni Jesenice, winning the league title three times, and was a member of the
Yugoslav and
Slovenian national teams.
He also coached
HK Acroni Jesenice of the
Austrian Hockey League during the 2006–07 season and the Slovenian national team from 2010 until 2015.
Mateja worked at the family restaurant in
Hrušica, a village about five kilometres from Jesenice.
When Kopitar was four, his father first taught him how to skate; Matjaž built an ice rink in their backyard in Hrušica, and Kopitar would play there whenever he could.
Kopitar has a brother,
Gašper, who is five years younger and also plays ice hockey. When the Kopitar family moved to Los Angeles, Gašper joined a junior team sponsored by the Kings. He then played for the
Portland Winterhawks of the
major junior
Junior ice hockey is amateur-level ice hockey for 16 to 20 year-old players. National List of members of the International Ice Hockey Federation, Junior teams compete annually for the IIHF World Junior Championship. The United States men's nationa ...
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League (WHL) is a junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitutes the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) as the highest level of junior hocke ...
(WHL) and the
Des Moines Buccaneers of the
United States Hockey League
The United States Hockey League (USHL) is the top junior ice hockey league sanctioned by USA Hockey. The league consists of 16 active teams located in the Midwestern United States and Great Plains, for players between the ages of 16 and 21. Th ...
(USHL), before turning professional with
Mora IK in Sweden.
Kopitar's grandmother taught English at a local high school, and both Kopitar and his brother learned to speak English from her. Kopitar speaks five languages:
Slovene,
Serbian, German, Swedish, and English. He enjoys playing
soccer
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 Football player, players who almost exclusively use their feet to propel a Ball (association football), ball around a rectangular f ...
and is a declared supporter of Slovenian soccer club
NK Maribor.
Kopitar is renowned in Slovenia due to his hockey exploits, with a government-sponsored website declaring that after he won the Stanley Cup in 2012 he was "the most recognised Slovenian sportsman." As a youth, he played in the 2000 and 2001
Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments with a team from Slovenia. He also hosts an annual charity golf tournament that benefits various groups, mainly youths.
Kopitar lived with his parents until moving to Sweden, where he lived alone in an apartment.
After his first season in the NHL, the rest of Kopitar's family joined him in Los Angeles; Kopitar bought a home in
Manhattan Beach in 2014. Kopitar met Ines Dominc in Slovenia in 2005; they married in July 2013. Their first child, a daughter named Neža, was born on 14 March 2015. Their second child, son Jakob, was born 5 October 2016.
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
Bold indicates led league
International
YoungStar Games
All-Star Games
*''All statistics are taken from NHL.com.
''
Awards and honours
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kopitar, Anze
1987 births
Living people
Ethnic Slovene people
Expatriate ice hockey players in the United States
Frank Selke Trophy winners
Ice hockey players at the 2014 Winter Olympics
Ice hockey people from Jesenice, Jesenice
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy winners
Los Angeles Kings draft picks
Los Angeles Kings players
Mora IK players
National Hockey League All-Stars
NHL first-round draft picks
Olympic ice hockey players for Slovenia
Slovenian expatriate ice hockey players in Sweden
Slovenian expatriate sportspeople in the United States
Slovenian ice hockey centres
Södertälje SK players
Stanley Cup champions