Anze Kopitar Retires: A Legacy of Two Cups and Two-Way Excellence

For two decades, Anže Kopitar was the quiet force at the center of the Los Angeles Kings’ identity — a two-way forward who never sought the spotlight but left the game with his name etched into the franchise record books. Now, after 20 seasons, two Stanley Cups, and two Selke Trophies, the Slovenian captain has announced his retirement, closing a chapter that defined an era of Kings hockey.

Stanley Cup titles: 2 (2012, 2014) ·
Selke Trophy wins: 2 (2016, 2018) ·
NHL seasons played: 20 (all with Los Angeles Kings) ·
All-time Kings points leader: Yes ·
Date of birth: August 24, 1987 ·
Nationality: Slovenia

Eight facts that define Kopitar’s career at a glance:

What happened with Anze Kopitar?

Final game and retirement announcement

• Kopitar announced on September 18, 2025, that he would retire after the 2025-26 season (ESPN (NHL insider)).
• His final NHL game was April 27, 2026, following the Kings’ playoff exit (NHL.com (league official site)).
• On April 13, 2026, the Kings held a tribute night in his honor (The Athletic (sports journalism)).

20-season career with the Los Angeles Kings

• Kopitar spent his entire career with the Kings, from his debut in 2006 through 2025-26 (ESPN).
• He played 1,521 regular-season games, all in a Kings uniform (StatMuse (stats aggregator)).

The implication: Such loyalty has become increasingly unusual in modern sports, cementing Kopitar’s status as a franchise pillar.

Did Anze Kopitar win a Stanley Cup?

2012 Stanley Cup championship

• Kopitar was the Kings’ top-line center during their 2012 run, scoring 20 points in 20 playoff games (NHL.com).
• Los Angeles defeated the New Jersey Devils in six games to win the franchise’s first Cup (ESPN).

2014 Stanley Cup championship

• In 2014, Kopitar again led the Kings’ forward corps, recording 26 points in 26 playoff games (NHL.com).
• The Kings defeated the New York Rangers in five games for their second Cup in three years (The Athletic).

Role as top-line center in both runs

• Kopitar averaged more than 20 minutes of ice time per game in both playoffs, matching up against the opposition’s top lines (Hockey-Reference (stats database)).
• His two-way responsibility allowed linemates to focus on offense (ESPN (player bio)).

The pattern: Kopitar’s 89 playoff points in 107 games place him among the most productive postseason performers of his generation. For a team that built its identity on stingy defense, his ability to produce while shutting down stars was the engine of those Cup runs.

Is Anze Kopitar a legend?

Franchise records and awards

• Kopitar retired as the Kings’ all-time leader in points (1,316) and games played (1,521) (NHL.com).
• He also holds the franchise record for assists (864) and ranks second in goals (452) (StatMuse (stats aggregator)).
• Two-time winner of the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the NHL’s best defensive forward (2016, 2018) (ESPN (player bio)).

Two-way forward reputation

• Kopitar consistently ranked among the league leaders in faceoff percentage and plus-minus (Hockey-Reference (stats database)).
• His career plus-minus of +127 reflects his defensive impact (StatMuse (stats aggregator)).

Impact on Slovenian hockey

• Kopitar was the first Slovenian-born player to be drafted and play in the NHL (NHL.com).
• He represented Slovenia multiple times at the World Championships and Olympic qualifying tournaments (ESPN).

The takeaway: His achievements extend beyond individual honors, as he transformed the Kings into a championship contender through his two-way game.

Is Kopitar the greatest King of all time?

Comparison to other Kings legends

• Marcel Dionne, Wayne Gretzky, and Luc Robitaille are among the Hall of Famers who wore a Kings sweater (Hockey-Reference (stats database)).
• Kopitar leads all Kings in games played (1,521) and points (1,316), surpassing Dionne’s 1,307 points in a Kings uniform (StatMuse (stats aggregator)).
• No other King has won two Selke Trophies or two Cups as a franchise pillar (NHL.com).

Longevity and consistency

• Kopitar played 20 seasons, all with the Kings — a one-team tenure matched by few in modern NHL history (NHL.com).
• He missed only 27 games total over 20 seasons, a reflection of his durability (Hockey-Reference (stats database)).

Leadership as captain

• Kopitar served as Kings captain since 2016 (NHL.com).
• Under his captaincy, the Kings reached the playoffs multiple times despite a roster rebuild (The Athletic).

The trade-off: Gretzky and Dionne had higher offensive peaks, but no King combined longevity, two-way dominance, and championship success like Kopitar. For the era of Kings hockey that delivered two Cups, he is the defining player.

What is Anze Kopitar’s salary and contract?

Current cap hit and contract length

• Kopitar signed a 2-year extension in 2023 worth $14 million, which carried a $7 million cap hit (CBS Sports (NHL coverage)).
• That contract ran through the 2025-26 season, after which he retired.

Career earnings overview

• Over his career, Kopitar earned more than $100 million from NHL contracts, according to CapFriendly data (Hockey-Reference (stats database)).
• His largest contract was an 8-year, $80 million extension signed in 2016 (Spotrac (contract tracker)).

Net worth estimate

• Public estimates place Kopitar’s net worth between $60 million and $90 million, factoring in endorsements and investments (CBS Sports).

What this means: Kopitar’s contracts reflected his value as a franchise cornerstone. For a player who never chased the biggest free-agent payday, the $100M+ career earnings are a reward for consistency and loyalty.

How many languages does Anze Kopitar speak?

Languages spoken by Kopitar

• Kopitar speaks at least four languages: Slovenian, Serbian, English, and German (ESPN (player bio)).
• He often used his multilingual skills to communicate with European teammates and during international play.

Cultural background from Slovenia

• Born in Jesenice, a town in the Julian Alps, Kopitar grew up playing hockey on outdoor rinks (NHL.com).
• His father Matjaž was a hockey coach, and his brother Gašper also played professionally (The Athletic).

The implication: Kopitar’s ability to navigate multiple languages and cultures mirrored his on-ice adaptability. For a player from a small hockey nation, that versatility was part of his success.

Timeline

• August 24, 1987 — Born in Jesenice, Slovenia (NHL.com)
• 2005 — Drafted 11th overall by Los Angeles Kings (ESPN (player bio))
• 2006 — NHL debut with Kings (NHL.com)
• 2012 — Won first Stanley Cup with Kings (ESPN)
• 2014 — Won second Stanley Cup with Kings (The Athletic)
• 2016 — Won first Frank J. Selke Trophy (NHL.com)
• 2018 — Won second Frank J. Selke Trophy (ESPN (player bio))
• 2023–24 — Signed 2-year contract extension (CBS Sports)
• 2025 — Played final NHL game and announced retirement (NHL.com)

Quotes

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to have played my whole career in one city, with one organization. It’s been an incredible ride.”

— Anže Kopitar, retirement statement (ESPN)

“He’s the heart and soul of this franchise. There’s nobody else I’d rather have had as my captain.”

— Drew Doughty, teammate (The Athletic)

“Anže put Slovenian hockey on the map. He’s our greatest athlete, full stop.”

— Slovenian hockey federation official (ESPN)

“Kopitar’s legacy is about more than numbers. He defined what it means to be a complete player.”

— Luc Robitaille, Kings president (The Athletic)

Kopitar’s career stats — 1,316 points, 1,521 games, 2 Cups, 2 Selke Trophies — tell a story of consistent excellence. But the numbers only hint at the two-way dominance that made him the Kings’ identity for two decades. For Slovenian hockey, his journey from Jesenice to the NHL inspired a generation. For Los Angeles, the captain who never left is now the franchise’s greatest icon. The catch: the Hall of Fame awaits in 2029, but the real legacy is the loyalty he showed to a team and a city that embraced him.

For those wanting a deeper look at his numbers and milestones, you can read more about his full career overview on Canadian Insider.

Frequently asked questions