The Los Angeles Kings have been one of the few active teams in an otherwise slow 2025 NHL offseason. The team seemed motivated for a deep run after signing former playoff rival Corey Perry to a one-year deal and bringing in young talent like Samuel Bolduc.
With stars Anže Kopitar and Adrian Kempe leading the charge, the Kings have consistently been one of the top teams in the Pacific Division. But now, a recent insider report about the team’s captain suggests that this era of stability could be coming to an end much sooner than anyone expected.
Is This Really Anže Kopitar’s Final Season in Los Angeles?
Last season, the Kings matched their franchise record for points in a season with 105, tying the mark set during the 1974-75 campaign. A primary reason for this success was the sensational performance from their captain, Kopitar. With a team-leading 67 points. (21 goals and 46 assists), Kopitar has been one of their core players and is the main reason why the Kings have reached the postseason four years in a row. While the recent additions of players like Perry and Bolduc gave fans hope for a deep playoff run next season, recent updates from NHL insider Jason Gregor suggest the opposite. Gregor believes this season might be the last for Kopitar in a Kings uniform.
On a recent episode of the “DFO Rundown“, Gregor joined co-host Mike Russo to discuss updates in the Pacific Division. With Kopitar entering the final year of his two-year, $14 million deal, Gregor got straight to the point.
Jason Gregor: People in LA are reporting this will be Anze Kopitar’s last season, he’s not signing an extension – DFO Rundown (8/19)
— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) August 20, 2025
Gregor first raised a question about the team’s future, stating, “You know, I look at LA and the thing about the Kings, I’m like, can Quinton Byfield take a step right?” He then dropped the major news: “People in LA are reporting this will be Anže Kopitar’s last season; he’s not signing an extension.”
Gregor continued, “It’s going to be done; that’s from guys you know in LA, Bernstein and others who know it well, so like, this is the year.” He noted that Dennis Bernstein from “The Fourth Period” shares the same opinion.
This potential departure leaves the Kings in a tough spot. Since joining the team for the 2006-07 season, Kopitar has been a core fixture of the roster and was a huge part of their 2012 and 2014Â Stanley Cup victories.
With 1,278 points across 1,454 regular-season games, he is second on the Kings’ all-time points list and holds the top spot for most assists with 838. If he leaves the Kings’ camp next year, the pressure will almost certainly fall on Byfield.
With the top-line center position at stake, Byfield is being touted as the most likely player to fill that role. And while Byfield had a solid run last season with 54 points in 81 games, Gregor remains unsure if he is ready to lead the front line. However, this news for the Kings’ rivals in the Pacific Division means the upcoming season could be their last, seeing Kopitar dominate the offense.
