Los Angeles Kings legend Anze Kopitar confirms retirement after 2025 26 NHL season

Anze Kopitar will retire after this NHL season. The Los Angeles Kings captain announced it on Thursday, September 18, 2025. This will be his 20th season in the league. Anze Kopitar has played his whole career with the Kings since 2006.

He turned 38 years old last month. He helped Los Angeles win the Stanley Cup in 2012 and 2014. He said he wanted to share the news before the season begins. His reason was simple. He wants to focus fully on helping the Kings in 2025-26. He called it his “last ride.”

Anze Kopitar’s records and awards with Los Angeles Kings

Anze Kopitar signed his final two-year deal in July 2023. He is already the Kings’ all-time leader in games played (1,454) and assists (838).He is close to breaking more team records. He is 29 points away from passing Marcel Dionne as the team’s top scorer.

He is also two goals behind Jeff Carter for the most overtime goals in Kings history.

Anze Kopitar has won many NHL honors. He was named the league’s best defensive forward twice, with Selke Trophies in 2016 and 2018. He also won the Lady Byng Trophy three times, including in 2025, for skill and sportsmanship.Even last season, Anze Kopitar was still a top player. He scored 67 points and tied for the team lead with seven game-winning goals.

He also played more minutes than almost every Kings forward, second only to Adrian Kempe.

Ken Holland and new signings aim to help Anze Kopitar in final season

The Kings have not won a playoff series since 2014. They lost to the Edmonton Oilers in the first round four years in a row.This summer, new general manager Ken Holland added veterans to push for a title. The Kings signed Corey Perry, Joel Armia, Cody Ceci, and Brian Dumoulin.Also Read: The Carolina Hurricanes Expect To Sign Former Devils Forward Michael McLeod This NHL SeasonAnze Kopitar is also a hero in his home country, Slovenia. He became the first Slovenian NHL player after being drafted 11th overall in 2005. He played for Slovenia in the 2014 Olympics in Sochi. But Slovenia did not qualify for the 2026 Olympics in Milan.Anze Kopitar’s career will end as one of the greatest in Kings history. He will also be remembered as the man who put Slovenia on the NHL map.