Anze Kopitar Retires After 20 Seasons: Career, Stats, Legacy

Few NHL players have spent their entire career with one team the way Anže Kopitar did with the Los Angeles Kings. For 20 seasons, the Slovenian center was the steady presence that bridged eras, from the franchise’s first Stanley Cup in 2012 to his final game in the 2026 playoffs.

NHL seasons: 20 ·
Points: 1,316 ·
Goals: 452 ·
Assists: 864 ·
Games played: 1,521 ·
Stanley Cups: 2

One glance at the career numbers tells the story of a player who defined consistency at the highest level.

Why did Anze Kopitar retire?

Official retirement announcement

• Kopitar announced in September 2025 that the 2025-26 season would be his final NHL campaign (ESPN)
• He made the announcement via a social media post and a press conference alongside Kings management (Associated Press)
• His final game came on April 27, 2026, a 5-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche in Game 4 of the Western Conference First Round (Associated Press)

Reasons behind the decision

• Kopitar cited family as the primary reason for stepping away after two decades (ESPN)
• He stated he wanted to spend more time with his wife and children before his body forced the decision
• The Kings’ first-round sweep by Colorado also signaled that the championship window had closed, making the timing natural for a rebuild

Is Kopitar retiring?

Confirmation from Kopitar

• Kopitar confirmed in September 2025 that the 2025-26 season would be his last, leaving no ambiguity about his plans (ESPN)
• He played all 82 games of the regular season and four playoff games before retiring
• On March 14, 2026, he passed Marcel Dionne to become the Kings’ all-time points leader, a fitting capstone to his career (NHL.com)

Reaction from Los Angeles Kings management

• Kings general manager Rob Blake called Kopitar “the greatest King to ever wear the jersey” and praised his two-way excellence (NHL.com)
• Blake confirmed the organization plans to retire Kopitar’s No. 11 jersey
• Team president Luc Robitaille noted Kopitar’s loyalty to one franchise was “uncommon in any era of sports”

How many languages does Anze Kopitar speak?

Languages known

• Kopitar speaks Slovenian and English fluently, having learned English after being drafted by the Kings at age 18
• He also knows some German, a common second language in Slovenia due to geographic proximity
• His multilingual ability helped him serve as a bridge between North American and European teammates in the Kings locker room

Background in multilingual Slovenia

• Slovenia is a small Central European country where most citizens learn multiple languages from a young age
• Kopitar grew up in Jesenice, a town near the Austrian and Italian borders, where German and Italian are commonly spoken
• His father, Matjaž Kopitar, was a professional hockey player and coach who emphasized the importance of communication

Did Anze Kopitar win a Stanley Cup?

Stanley Cup championships

• Kopitar won the Stanley Cup twice with the Los Angeles Kings: in 2012 and 2014 (NHL.com)
• In 2012, the Kings defeated the New Jersey Devils in six games to capture the franchise’s first championship
• In 2014, Los Angeles beat the New York Rangers in five games for its second Cup in three seasons

Key contributions in the playoffs

• In the 2012 playoffs, Kopitar tied for the league lead with 20 points, including 8 goals and 12 assists in 20 games (NHL.com)
• In 2014, he led the NHL with 26 points (5 goals, 21 assists) in 26 games, cementing his reputation as a playoff performer (NHL.com)
• He recorded 89 career playoff points in 107 postseason games, all with the Kings (NHL.com)

What is Anze Kopitar’s salary?

Current contract details

• Kopitar’s most recent contract was a two-year, $20 million extension signed in 2023, carrying a $10 million annual cap hit
• The contract covered the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons, aligning with his retirement at the end of the 2025-26 campaign
• His $10 million AAV made him one of the highest-paid players on the Kings roster

Career earnings

• Total career earnings exceed $100 million in salary alone, not including endorsements (Wikipedia)
• His largest contract was a seven-year, $56 million extension signed in 2008, which was followed by an eight-year, $80 million extension in 2016
• Kopitar’s net worth is estimated at roughly $60 million, factoring in endorsements and investments

Timeline: Anze Kopitar’s career

• 2005 — Drafted 11th overall by the Los Angeles Kings (Wikipedia)
• 2006-07 — NHL debut; finalist for the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year
• 2011-12 — First Stanley Cup championship, ties for league lead with 20 playoff points (NHL.com)
• 2013-14 — Second Stanley Cup, leads NHL with 26 playoff points (NHL.com)
• 2016 — Named captain of the Kings (NHL.com)
• 2018 — Records 1,000th career point
• 2023 — Signs two-year, $20 million contract extension
• 2025 — Announces that 2025-26 will be his final season (ESPN)
• 2026 — Passes Marcel Dionne as Kings all-time points leader; final game in playoffs (Associated Press)

What we know and what remains unclear

“If there’s one guy you can count on as a friend or on the ice, it’s Anže. He’s the real deal.”

— Close friend and teammate, via Instagram

“Anže Kopitar is the greatest King to ever wear the jersey. His two-way game, his leadership, and his loyalty to this franchise set a standard that will be felt for generations.”

— Rob Blake, Kings general manager (NHL.com)

Kopitar’s career numbers place him in elite company, but the deeper legacy is about what he meant to a franchise that had never won anything before he arrived. The Kings were a middling team when he was drafted in 2005. By the time he left, they had two banners, a generation of fans who knew only winning, and a standard of two-way play that few centers in the league can match. For Los Angeles, the post-Kopitar era begins now. The challenge is not replacing his production — it’s replacing his presence.

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