In a "big announcement" on Sep. 18, Los Angeles Kings captain and forward Anze Kopitar said the 2025-26 season will be the last of his career in the NHL. Kopitar is going into the 20th season of his career in the league for the upcoming 2025-26 campaign in the West.
Anze Kopitar's legendary career with the Los Angeles Kings will end after the conclusion of the upcoming 2025-26 regular season
Kopitar made the announcement at the Kings' team practice facility at the Toyota Sports Performance Center in El Segundo, CA, on Thursday afternoon.
"After last season, I had a bit of time over the last few months to think and to talk to the family to see where the path is for me and where it's going, and after lots and lots of thinking, I’ve decided that this year is going to be my last year playing in the NHL. With a heavy heart obviously, I’ve accepted that decision"Anze Kopitar
He made the announcement while his wife and kids were standing next to him in El Segundo this afternoon.
"These guys that are sitting here with me, have been with me for the past 20-plus years and now they deserve a husband and a dad to be home and present for the moments that are going to be leading up, especially for these guys. They’re soon going to be teenagers and we all know that’s a very important time of their lives and I want to be as present as I can be."Anze Kopitar
This news comes as the Kings just start training camp ahead of the preseason this fall at the Toyota Sports Performance Cneter in El Segundo. The Kings began on-ice skates today for training camp ahead of the preseason opener on Sunday (Sep. 21) against the Anaheim Ducks.
Kopitar has played his two-decade career in the NHL with Los Angeles with the Kings. He was drafted by the Kings 11th overall in the first round of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. Kopitar will be entering the final season of a two-year contract he signed with the Kings last offseason, worth around $7 million in average annual value.
This past regular season, Kopitar scored 21 goals and 67 total points for the Kings. He was awarded the Lady Byng Trophy for the third time in his career and the second time in the past three years (since the 2022-23 season).
Kopitar is the Kings' franchise career leader in regular season and postseason games played, assists, faceoff wins, takeaways, and he ranks second in goals scored and total points.
He won two Stanley Cups with the Kings in 2012 and 2014. He's looking to get the Kings over the hump in the postseason past the first round of the playoffs this upcoming season.