What a past six months it has been for Los Angeles Kings forward Anze Kopitar. Back in January, he signed an eight year, $80 million contract, and on Thursday, was named the latest captain of the club. Kopitar will the franchise’s 14th captain. He takes over for Dustin Brown, who wore the “C” since 2008. Anze Kopitar makes history by becoming the first Slovenian-born captain in the National Hockey League.
Anze Kopitar Named Kings Newest Captain
Kopitar takes over for Dustin Brown. He was stripped of his captaincy in late May as the team “Wanted to go in a different direction with the ‘C’.” Kopitar, 28, has been a member of the Los Angeles Kings for 10 years. The Kings drafted Kopitar in the first round of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, 11th overall. In 764 career games with the Kings, Kopitar has put up 243 goals and 441 assists for 684 career points. He is a two time 30-goal scorer, as well as a three-time NHL All-Star. He played for, and captained, Team Slovenia at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Kopitar has won the Stanley Cup twice with the Kings (2012 and 2014). This past season Kopitar had 25 goals and 49 assists for 74 points in 81 games played.
Kopitar is one of the NHL’s best two-way forwards, as seen by his multiple Selke Trophy nominations. He plays top minutes for the Kings. Kopitar puts up those offense numbers, while also playing against the oppositions top players. He further proves his worth by killing penalties.
Praise from coach Darryl Sutter
“Our team, the top players are also the captains, so it goes hand-in-hand. It’s a lot of responsibility for Kopi, but that’s good responsibility and it’s good pressure,” Kings head coach Darryl Sutter said in a March 20th press conference. “I trust him on and off the ice, so you expect him to be a top guy in both those areas. He’s a top player on the ice and he’s our captain.”
Main Photo: LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 13: Anze Kopitar #11 of the Los Angeles Kings talks with teammate Justin Williams #14 as they celebrate with the Stanley Cup after the Kings 3-2 double overtime victory against the New York Rangers in Game Five of the 2014 Stanley Cup Final at Staples Center on June 13, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
