Kopitar making an attempt to ‘have as much fun as I can’ in remaining NHL season with Kings

Anze Kopitar wants simply 18 factors to surpass Hall of Famer Marcel Dionne because the all-time main scorer for the Los Angeles Kings in what can be one more memorable milestone on his NHL farewell tour.

But the place would that potential accomplishment rank the 38-year-old heart, who already introduced he’ll retire on the finish of this season, among the many franchise’s all-time greats?

“The best ever,” stated Kings broadcaster Jim Fox, who performed 9 seasons in Los Angeles (1980-90). “In fact, he’s already No. 1 right now in my books.”

Kopitar’s subsequent alternative to whittle down the hole between he and Dionne will come Monday when the Kings captain and his teammates host the Ottawa Senators at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles (9 p.m. ET: FDSNW, Prime, RDS2).

Expected to be within the constructing, as common, will likely be Luc Robitaille, the Kings president who ranks third of their historical past in factors with 1,154, behind solely Dionne (1,307) and Kopitar (1,290).

Those three are amongst a cache of excellent gamers who’ve represented Los Angeles because the crew’s inception in 1967, an illustrious group that additionally consists of the likes of fellow forwards Wayne Gretzky (918 factors), Bernie Nicholls (758) and Drew Doughty (694), the franchise’s all-time main scorer amongst defensemen who, like Kopitar, remains to be taking part in.

And don’t neglect goalies Jonathan Quick, the Kings’ chief in wins (370), and Hall of Famer Rogie Vachon.

Given that prestigious checklist, what makes Fox put Kopitar on the high?

“I’ll repeat: Anze Kopitar is the greatest player in Kings history,” he replied.

“Here’s why: Gretzky performed there however he received 4 Stanley Cups in Edmonton. He’s an Oiler. Marcel performed there, however he didn’t play his complete profession there; he performed with Detroit and the Rangers too. Luc, on the level the place he ended his profession, he was the NHL’s all-time main scorer amongst left wingers however moved round, too, taking part in for Pittsburgh, Detroit and the Rangers as effectively whereas coming again a number of instances.

“Anze Kopitar has been a King [from] the beginning to the end. That’s why I rank him at the top.”

Few individuals, if any, have seen or been half as many Kings video games over the previous half-century as Fox after they chose him with the No. 10 decide on the 1980 NHL Draft. He retired in 1990 as a result of lingering knee points and was employed shortly afterward as a tv analyst, a job he nonetheless holds to at the present time.

As such, he’s just about been witness to Kopitar’s complete profession, one which began when the 6-foot-3, 225-pound heart was drafted No. 11 by Los Angeles on the 2005 NHL Draft. Since then, Kopitar is the crew’s all-time chief in assists (846), received the Selke Trophy because the NHL’s greatest defensive ahead (2016, 2018), the Lady Bing because the League’s most gentlemanly participant (2016, 2023, 2025), the Mark Messier Leadership award (2022) and, together with Doughty, helped the Kings win the Stanley Cup twice (2012, 2014).

Doughty, sadly, received’t be within the lineup Monday; he’s on injured reserve and week to week after blocking a shot throughout a 1-0 victory in Ottawa on Nov. 15. Interestingly it was Doughty who in the course of the offseason tried to sway Kopitar away from his retirement plans.

It didn’t work.

“I did this summer,” Doughty stated. “And then he announced it. I’m leaving him alone now.”

Kopitar confirmed Doughty’s ill-fated try.

“Yeah, he tried to talk me out of it,” Kopitar stated with a chuckle. “It didn’t succeed.”

Kopitar has 12 factors (4 objectives, eight assists) and is plus-7 in 18 video games in his remaining NHL season. In the method, he’s soaking in each minute, from video games to practices to crew meals.

“Just trying to enjoy it as much as I can, really, whether that’s the last time in a certain building, the last time against a certain team, it doesn’t matter,” he stated. “It’s simply all year long I instructed myself I’m going to get pleasure from it, attempt to take all of it in.

“Obviously I want to win and not just be happy to be here. I want to play good. I want to win, but at the same time make a mark and have as much fun as I can.”