(Los Angeles) Anze Kopitar has reached a new plateau, which should happen a few times this season.
On Saturday, he played his 1297e game to become the Kings’ all-time leader in games played.
He outplayed his former teammate Dustin Brown in Los Angeles in a 4-2 loss to the Boston Bruins.
“To be pretty durable over the course of my career and to do it with one team, that’s something I’m proud of,” Kopitar said. It is a great honor to have been a part of one organization, alongside “Brownie”, Drew [Doughty] and Quicky [Jonathan Quick]. A brotherhood was created. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. »
PHOTO ASHLEY LANDIS, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Anze Kopitar
The Kings selected Kopitar at 11e rank overall in 2005.
He is one of 10 hockey players from this draft who are still playing.
That includes Penguins superstar Sydney Crosby, the No. 1 pick that year, and Quick, chosen by the Kings in the third round.
Quick was in net for the Kings for 16 seasons before being traded last season. He now plays with the New York Rangers.
Kopitar, Brown, Doughty and Quick were part of the core that led the Kings to Stanley Cup titles in 2012 and 2014.
Brown retired at the end of the 2021-22 season. He knew his record wouldn’t last long.
In a message broadcast during the first period on Saturday, Brown said: “Two things have to happen for this type of record to be broken. One, you are a fantastic player. Everybody knows it. Two means you’re old. »
Kopitar, 36, laughed as he looked at the message. He admitted it was strange to overtake someone you know so well.
“I am passing a great friend. But if there had been a scenario where we both ended up with the same number, I’m sure we would have happily approved,” he mentioned.
Kopitar has 395 goals and 1,146 career points, including two goals and three assists this season.
He has been the Kings’ leading scorer in 15 of the last 17 seasons. He has also been captain of the team since 2016.
Kings coach Todd McLellan held Kopitar up as an example for younger players when he coached other clubs.
“He really understands the big picture,” McLellan said. He always plays the right way. »
The first Slovenian to play in the NHL, Kopitar ranks fourth among active skaters in games played.
PHOTO OLIVIER JEAN, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Anze Kopitar representing Slovenia at the Hockey World Cup in 2016
Kopitar needs seven assists to eclipse Marcel Dionne for the Kings record in that aspect.
He is five goals short of becoming the fourth player in Kings history to reach 400 goals.
Kopitar also needs nine points to surpass Luc Robitaille for second place in team scoring.
Kopitar has a contract that runs through the end of the 2025-26 season, and he shows no signs of slowing down.
Last season, he received his second Lady Byng Trophy after receiving just four penalty minutes in nearly 1,655 minutes of ice time.
Kopitar and Doughty are the wise old guys for the Kings, who haven’t won a playoff series since winning their second title in 2014.
Doughty competed in his 1100e game Saturday night.
“I felt good from the start here,” Kopitar said. We’ve come a long way, and we’re not done yet. I still have a few years ahead of me. »