Thoughts About the Future of Anze Kopitar

We’re in the time of year to begin wondering about the future of Anze Kopitar. The cornerstone of their rebuild. One of the most underrated centers in all of the NHL.

I’ll start by saying I think Anze Kopitar is a career LA King-er. There aren’t many players who have the kind of character, career, skill, and hockey sense which causes a team to do everything they can to keep them for their entire career. But Kopi is one of those rare commodities. He has as much pure offensive skill as Pavel Datsyuk. He has the defensive mind of Patrice Bergeron. He has the character of Steve Yzerman. And he has the ability to win & lead his teammates like Mark Messier.

I mean, just look at this pass…

Kopitar was drafted in 2005 – one of those years full of ridiculous talent. He was drafted after superstars like Sidney Crosby, Bobby Ryan, and Carey Price. But the Kings scored big time by grabbing him as the #11 overall pick – after failures & mediocre careers such as Gilbert Brule, Devon Setoguchi, Benoit Pouliot, and Jack Skille.

Can you imagine if the Kings had Brule instead of Kopitar? WOW.

According to LA Kings Insider, Kopitar contract talks have started to heat up. He’s about to begin the final year of his 7 year, $47.6 million contract. Upon the end of that deal, Kopitar is destined for unrestricted free agency. Precisely the reason why the Kings will be working hard the rest of this summer to work out another deal. To let a player like Anze Kopitar walk would be criminal. He’s led the team in scoring every season since 2007, won 2 Stanley Cups, been in 3 All-Star Games, nominated for 2 Selke trophies and 1 Lady Byng trophy. And let’s not forget Kopi’s admirable run as captain of the big underdog at the 2014 Sochi Olympics – Team Slovenia.

This guy is a star in every sense of the word.

So what’s going to happen with Kopitar? Will he remain a Los Angeles King after this coming season? Will he choose the unrestricted free agency route? Or will he sign a contract extension with the team he’s won 2 Cups with?

Here are my thoughts:

I believe he’ll sign a contract extension to stay with the Kings. A big and long-term extension. He turns 28 this year so I imagine a 7-8 year deal worth between $49-$56 million and much of that being paid upfront in the first 5-6 years of the deal. A deal like this is risky in case of injury or if Kopitar turns into one of those guys that plummets as a player. I’m thinking of guys like Vincent Lecavalier, Mike Richards (cough cough), Wade Redden, and Alexei Yashin.

But let’s be real. This is Anze Kopitar. He won’t be one of those guys. Never.

Kopitar will be who the Kings continue to build their roster around. They, currently, have the cash available to propose the right deal to Kopi and only time will tell what his fate will be. Go get him, Lombardi!

Next: Los Angeles Kings Summer Transactions

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