Team captain and two-time Stanley Cup winner center Anze Kopitar is one of the best players in the history of the Los Angeles Kings franchise. The two-time Selke award winner and three-time Lady Byng trophy winner has been a face of the franchise for the Kings for nearly two decades (since the 2006-07 season).
Anze Kopitar has starred for the Los Angeles Kings since the mid-to-late 2000s
But there are various rumors and reports circulating in the media and fan circles this offseason that Kopitar might not be playing in Southern California for much longer.
Jason Gregor of The Daily Faceoff reported on Aug. 19 that Kopitar could decide not to re-sign a contract with the Kings next summer for the 2026 offseason.
Kopitar has been a fixture and a crucial part of the Kings' franchise since the mid-2000s decade. At 37 years of age, Kopitar has scored over 1,200 points in nearly 1,500 games played in his career with the Kings. He ranks in the top five in franchise history in most major statistical categories, including total points, goals, assists, power play goals, and postseason games played.
He'll be going into his 20th year in LA this upcoming season in the 2025-26 campaign for the Kings.
Kings' general manager Ken Holland told NHL Network earlier this summer that Kopitar isn't looking to sign a contract extension after this upcoming season. It sounds like Kopitar is taking his contract situation with the Kings more "year-to-year" at this exact moment.
Kopitar hasn't showed many signs of slowing down too much in recent years in his late 30s. He scored over 20 goals and 67 total points for the Kings this past season. Kopitar is a quality top-line center for the Kings in the Pacific Division and the Western Conference going into the upcoming 2025-26 season.