Kings Captain Anze Kopitar: 'This Is Going To Be My Last Year'
Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar announced the 2025-26 season will be the last of his NHL career.
thehockeynews.comHere’s the latest on Anže Kopitar:
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Kopitar has announced that the 2025-26 season will be his last in the NHL with the Los Angeles Kings. He shared this in a press conference, citing the desire to focus on family and life after hockey. This marks the end of a 20-year career with a single franchise, including two Stanley Cups (2012, 2014) and a long tenure as captain since 2016.[3][6]
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Reports indicate he plans to return to Slovenia at times and spend more time with family, with discussions about post-retirement life ongoing as he approaches the final year. In early coverage, teammates and management framed the announcement as a respectful transition rather than a sudden departure.[2][3]
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In data from late 2025 to early 2026, outlets such as The Hockey News, ESPN, and CBSSports continued to track his final season as a milestone, with features touching on his career highlights, leadership, and retirement plans. A notable postseason/season moment was his last regular-season home game and the emotional crowd reception, signaling an era closing for Kings fans.[4][8][9][10]
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Quick context: Kopitar won the Lady Byng Trophy (gentleman on the ice) multiple times in his career and remains the highest-profile Slovenian in NHL history, with a career of durable consistency and leadership for L.A..[1][2][3]
If you’d like, I can pull more detailed summaries from specific outlets or compile a timeline of Kopitar’s milestones and quotes from his retirement announcement. Please tell me which sources you prefer or if you want a concise one-page timeline.