Anže Kopitar Bio
Anže Kopitar, born on 24 August 1987 in Jesenice, Slovenia, is a Slovenian professional ice hockey centre who spent his entire 20-season NHL career with the Los Angeles Kings. Drafted 11th overall by the Kings in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, Kopitar became the first Slovenian to compete in the NHL when he debuted in 2006. Throughout his distinguished career, he served as the Kings captain from 2016 until his retirement following the 2025-26 season. Kopitar established himself as one of the most complete two-way forwards in NHL history, earning numerous individual accolades while leading the Kings to two Stanley Cup championships. He is the franchise’s all-time leader in points and assists and ranks third in goals in Kings history.
Early Life and Background
Anže Kopitar was born in Jesenice, SR Slovenia, SFR Yugoslavia, to Matjaž and Mateja Kopitar. His father, Matjaž, was a notable ice hockey player who won three league titles with HK Acroni Jesenice and represented both the Yugoslav and Slovenian national teams. Matjaž later coached HK Acroni Jesenice and the Slovenian national team from 2010 to 2015. When Anže was four years old, his father taught him how to skate and built an ice rink in their backyard in Hrušica, a village approximately five kilometres from Jesenice. This early exposure to hockey on the family rink became the foundation for Kopitar’s future career.
Mateja worked at the family restaurant in Hrušica. Anže grew up speaking Slovenian at home and learned additional languages from his grandmother, who taught English at a local high school. Kopitar would go on to become fluent in five languages: Slovenian, Serbian, German, Swedish, and English. He also has a brother, Gašper, who is five years younger and also became a professional ice hockey player. The Kopitar family eventually moved to Los Angeles together, with Anže purchasing a home in Manhattan Beach in 2014.
Path to Professional Hockey
Kopitar began his hockey journey playing for his hometown team HK Acroni Jesenice. He split the 2002 season between the team’s under-18 and junior clubs while also appearing in 11 games for the senior team HK Kranjska Gora of the Slovenian Ice Hockey League. At just 16 years old, he led the Slovenian Ice Hockey League in scoring, demonstrating the exceptional talent that would define his career. Swedish scout Lars Söder discovered Kopitar when he was 13 years old at the 2001 European Youth Olympic Winter Festival in Vuokatti, Finland, and later recruited him for the Elitserien in Sweden.
Recognizing that the Slovenian Ice Hockey League did not offer a high enough level of competition for his development, Kopitar decided to pursue opportunities abroad. At age 16, he joined the Södertälje SK organization in Sweden, playing for their junior team where he led the league in scoring with 49 points (28 goals and 21 assists) in 30 games. Prior to the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, he was ranked as the top European skater by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau. The Los Angeles Kings selected him 11th overall in the 2005 Draft. Unlike most top prospects, Kopitar was not present at the draft; he remained in Sweden preparing for preseason games. He declined an opportunity to join the WHL’s Regina Pats after being selected in the CHL Import Draft, instead choosing to continue his development against professional players in the Elitserien.
Anže Kopitar Career
Early Career (2002–2006)
Following his selection in the 2005 NHL Draft, Kopitar signed an entry-level contract with the Los Angeles Kings on 7 September 2005 but returned to Sweden for one more season to further his development. On 6 October 2006, he made his NHL debut against the Anaheim Ducks, making an immediate impact by scoring two goals in his first game. In January 2007, he was selected to play in the NHL YoungStars Game during All-Star weekend, recording two goals and three assists. Kopitar completed his rookie season with 20 goals and 41 assists for 61 points, finishing third among rookies in scoring and fifth among all-time Kings rookies in points. He finished fourth in Calder Memorial Trophy voting for rookie of the year and was awarded the Mark Bavis Memorial Award as the Kings’ best first-year player.
Los Angeles Kings Breakthrough (2006–2016)
The 2007-08 season marked Kopitar’s first full NHL campaign, and he was selected to represent the Western Conference at the NHL All-Star Game in Atlanta. At 20 years old, he was the youngest player in the game, nearly two years younger than the second-youngest participant. He finished the regular season with 32 goals and 45 assists for 77 points, leading the Kings in assists and points while placing second in goals. He earned his first Bill Libby Memorial Award as the Kings’ most valuable player. Early in the 2008-09 season, on 11 October 2008, Kopitar signed a seven-year contract extension worth $47.6 million, securing his long-term future with the franchise.
The 2009-10 season saw Kopitar score his first career NHL hat-trick against the Dallas Stars and post a career-high 34 goals along with 47 assists and 81 points. He won his second Bill Libby Memorial Award and led the team in scoring for the third consecutive year as the Kings qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2002. The 2010-11 season saw him set a Kings team record with 325 consecutive games played before suffering a season-ending broken ankle on 26 March 2011. Despite missing the final seven regular season games and the playoffs, he led the team in scoring for the fourth straight season with 73 points.
The 2011-12 season proved to be a breakthrough championship year. Kopitar led the Kings in scoring with 76 points (25 goals and a career-best 51 assists) as Los Angeles made history by winning the Stanley Cup as the eighth seed. He tied with teammate Dustin Brown to lead the team in playoff scoring with 20 points from 20 games as the Kings defeated the New Jersey Devils in six games in the Final. Kopitar became the first Slovenian-born player to win the Stanley Cup and was named the 2012 Slovenian Male Athlete of the Year in recognition of this achievement.
Los Angeles Kings Captain Era (2016–2026)
On 16 June 2016, Kopitar was named the 14th captain in Kings franchise history, becoming the first European-born player to hold that position. In his first season as captain, his production dropped to 52 points, ending his nine-year streak of leading the team in scoring. However, he bounced back dramatically in the 2017-18 season, recording career highs of 35 goals and 57 assists for 92 points. He scored his fourth career hat-trick with four goals against the Colorado Avalanche on 22 March 2018. After the season, he was awarded the Frank J. Selke Trophy for the second time and was a finalist for the Hart Memorial Trophy as regular season MVP.
Kopitar continued his excellence into the 2020s. On 5 May 2021, he recorded his 1,000th career point against the Arizona Coyotes, becoming the 91st player in NHL history to reach that milestone. He won his second Lady Byng Memorial Trophy in 2023, becoming the first Kings player since Wayne Gretzky to win the award more than once. During the 2023-24 season, he scored his 400th NHL goal, passed Marcel Dionne to become the all-time assists leader in Kings franchise history, and recorded his 1,200th NHL point.
On 18 September 2025, Kopitar announced his retirement following the 2025-26 season. During that season, he became the 25th player in NHL history to play 1,500 regular season games. On 14 March 2026, he broke Marcel Dionne’s record for the most career points in franchise history. He played his final game on 26 April 2026 in front of the home crowd in Los Angeles, receiving a standing ovation as fans chanted “Thank you, Kopi!”
Driving Style and Strengths
Kopitar was renowned throughout the NHL as one of the most effective two-way forwards, excelling equally in offensive and defensive play. Standing at 6 feet 3 inches and weighing 224 pounds, he combined size, strength, and exceptional intelligence. San Jose Sharks forward Logan Couture described him as “as difficult to play against as any player in the league” and noted his responsibility defensively and ability to anticipate where the puck was going. Kopitar also maintained one of the highest career averages for winning faceoffs in the league and led the Kings in team scoring 14 times during his career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Throughout his career, Kopitar achieved numerous milestones that cemented his legacy. He led the NHL playoffs in scoring during both of his Stanley Cup victories in 2012 and 2014. He won the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the NHL’s best defensive forward in 2016 and 2018, finishing as a finalist four additional times. His three Lady Byng Memorial Trophy wins (2016, 2023, 2025) recognized his exceptional sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct on the ice. As the first Slovenian to play in the NHL, he paved the way for future players from his country and became a national hero in Slovenia.
Anže Kopitar Career Wins
Kopitar’s career is highlighted by two Stanley Cup championships, numerous individual awards, and multiple franchise records. He accumulated over 1,300 career points during his 20 seasons with the Kings, establishing himself as the most productive player in franchise history.
Stanley Cup Championships
Kopitar won the Stanley Cup twice with the Los Angeles Kings, first in 2012 and again in 2014. In the 2012 playoffs, he tied with Dustin Brown to lead the team in scoring with 20 points from 20 games as the Kings became the first eighth seed to win the Stanley Cup. In the 2014 championship run, he led the entire NHL in playoff scoring with 26 points (5 goals and 21 assists) from 26 games as the Kings won their second title in three seasons. Both victories came after dramatic seven-game series in the Western Conference Finals.
Individual Awards
Kopitar’s individual accolades include the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the NHL’s best defensive forward, which he won in 2016 and 2018, with four additional finalist appearances. He won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct three times (2016, 2023, 2025), with two more finalist appearances. He was a Hart Memorial Trophy finalist in 2018 as league MVP. The Kings recognized him with five Bill Libby Memorial Awards as the team’s most valuable player and the Mark Bavis Memorial Award as their best rookie.
| Award | Count |
|---|---|
| Stanley Cup Championships | 2 |
| Frank J. Selke Trophy | 2 |
| Lady Byng Memorial Trophy | 3 |
| Bill Libby Memorial Award | 5 |
Anže Kopitar Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Kopitar comes from a family with deep roots in ice hockey. His father Matjaž played professionally for HK Acroni Jesenice and represented both Yugoslav and Slovenian national teams before becoming a successful coach. His brother Gašper also pursued a professional hockey career, playing for Mora IK in Sweden after developing in the Kings’ junior system in Los Angeles. Gašper joined the Kings’ sponsored junior team when the family moved to North America, then played for the Portland Winterhawks in the WHL and the Des Moines Buccaneers in the USHL before turning professional. Their father Matjaž coached Gašper’s national team during the 2014 Winter Olympics qualification process.
Personal Life
Kopitar met his wife Ines Dominc in Slovenia in 2005, and they married in July 2013. The couple welcomed their first child, daughter Neža, on 14 March 2015. Their son Jakob was born on 5 October 2016. Kopitar is multilingual, speaking Slovenian, Serbian, German, Swedish, and English fluently. He enjoys playing soccer in his free time and is a declared supporter of Slovenian soccer club NK Maribor. He also hosts an annual charity golf tournament that benefits various youth organizations. Kopitar was renowned in Slovenia for his hockey achievements, with a government-sponsored website declaring him “the most recognised Slovenian sportsman” after his first Stanley Cup victory.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024-25 season represented another strong campaign for Kopitar as he continued his impressive two-way play into his late career. He recorded 21 goals and 46 assists for 67 points in 81 games while taking only two minor penalties throughout the entire season. His discipline and sportsmanship remained exemplary, exemplifying the qualities that earned him multiple Lady Byng Memorial Trophy nominations. The Los Angeles Kings qualified for the playoffs as a competitive force in the Western Conference.
In the 2025 playoffs, the Kings faced the Edmonton Oilers in the first round and were eliminated in six games. Kopitar contributed significantly during the postseason, recording two goals and seven assists for nine points across all six games. His performance throughout the series demonstrated his continued ability to elevate his play when it mattered most. Following the season, he was named a finalist for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for the fourth time in his career, underscoring his reputation as one of the most respectful and sportsmanlike players in the league. He was announced as the winner of the award on 12 June 2025, marking his third time earning the prestigious trophy.