Anže Kopitar doesn’t usually speak in absolutes. For nearly two decades, he’s let his play do the talking.
He is calm, reliable, and consistent. But as he prepares to skate into his 20th NHL season, the Kings captain finally put words to a topic that’s been circling for years. This time, he didn’t hold back.
Is This the Last Ride for Anže Kopitar in Los Angeles?
Kopitar appeared on the Sports Central podcast with Jaime Maggio, stating, “I’ve been thinking about it. Not everything is quite decided yet, but this could be my last season in the NHL, yes.”
Just like that, the quiet speculation surrounding his future had a voice – his own.
“This could be my last season in the NHL, yes.”
Anze Kopitar tells @jaimemaggio on the Sports Central Podcast his 20th year with the @LAKings might be his final one. Full podcast comes out tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/ntzfwipA2H
— Sports Central LA (@SportsCentralLA) August 28, 2025
The timing carries extra weight. Kopitar is entering the final year of the two-year, $14 million extension he signed in 2023. No new deal is on the table. At 38, with almost two decades of wear on his body, he knows the clock is ticking.
For the Kings, this means they may be watching the final stretch of the player who has defined their franchise. The captain who anchored their greatest moments might be skating his last season in the silver and black.
Why Retirement Is on Kopitar’s Mind
The numbers tell an incredible story. With more than 1,450 games, 440 goals, and 838 assists, Kopitar sits behind Luc Robitaille and Marcel Dionnein goals. He’s just a handful of points away from passing Marcel Dionne atop the all-time franchise list. But statistics don’t fully capture what Kopitar has meant to Los Angeles.
He was the center of two Stanley Cup championships. The Selke and Lady Byng trophies sit in his collection. More than anything, he’s been the guy teammates call the heartbeat of the room. The steady presence who made everyone around him better.
Retirement, then, isn’t just about one player stepping away. It’s about the Kings losing their anchor. “If I said I didn’t think about it, I’d be lying for sure,” Kopitar admitted. He didn’t sound regretful or bitter, just realistic. Twenty years at this level take a toll on any player’s body and mind.
If this really is the end, fans won’t need reminding of his résumé. It already reads like a Hall of Fame induction speech. If it’s not, then Los Angeles gets one more season with its captain in the middle, doing what he’s always done: making the game look a little easier and making the Kings feel a little steadier.
Either way, every shift this season will be watched a little closer. Whether it’s goodbye or just a pause before another contract, Kopitar’s story with the Kings is nearing its final chapters. Nobody in Los Angeles is taking it for granted.
