Anže Kopitar Bio
Anže Kopitar, born on 24 August 1987, is a Slovenian professional ice hockey player who serves as the captain and centre for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL). Drafted 11th overall by the Kings in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, he became the first Slovenian to compete in the NHL when he debuted in 2006. Throughout his career, Kopitar has been instrumental for the Kings, leading the team in scoring almost every season, and he has won the Stanley Cup twice. In addition, he has received several prestigious awards, including the Frank J. Selke Trophy for best defensive forward and the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship. His contributions to hockey extend beyond the NHL, as he has represented Slovenia in various international competitions.
Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 225 pounds, Kopitar is recognized as one of the most effective two-way forwards in the league. He combines size, hockey intelligence, and skill in all three zones, and he has long been praised for his anticipation and responsible defensive play. He plays primarily as a centre and has also been a faceoff specialist, posting one of the highest career winning percentages in the league. On 18 September 2025, he announced that the 2025–26 season would be his final campaign before retirement.
Early Life and Background
Anže Kopitar was born in Jesenice, then part of the Socialist Republic of Slovenia within the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, to Matjaž and Mateja Kopitar. His father Matjaž was a longtime hockey player for HK Acroni Jesenice, winning the Slovenian league title three times, and also represented Yugoslavia and Slovenia at the international level. His mother Mateja worked at the family restaurant in Hrušica, a small village about five kilometres from Jesenice. Kopitar has a younger brother, Gašper, who is five years his junior and also pursued a professional hockey career.
Kopitar’s introduction to hockey came at age four, when his father first put him on skates. Matjaž built a small ice rink in the backyard of the family home in Hrušica, and young Anže spent countless hours there developing his game. His grandmother, an English teacher at a local high school, helped both brothers learn the language, and Kopitar eventually became fluent in five languages: Slovene, Serbian, German, Swedish, and English. Growing up in a hockey household in a community passionate about the sport, he joined the youth program of his hometown club, HK Acroni Jesenice, where he quickly established himself as a promising talent.
Path to Hockey
Kopitar began playing organized hockey for the youth teams of HK Acroni Jesenice in 2002, splitting his time between the under-18 and junior squads. He also appeared in 11 games for HK Kranjska Gora of the Slovenian Ice Hockey League, recording four goals and four assists. By the age of 16, he led the Slovenian league in scoring, drawing the attention of Swedish scout Lars Söder, who had first noticed him at the 2001 European Youth Olympic Winter Festival in Finland. Convinced that the Slovenian league lacked the necessary competition, Kopitar and his family decided that a move abroad was essential for his development.
In 2004, Kopitar relocated to Sweden to play for Södertälje SK. He immediately excelled with their junior team, leading the league in scoring with 49 points in 30 games. He also spent time with the senior squad in the top-tier Elitserien, gaining valuable experience against professional players. At 17, the NHL Central Scouting Bureau ranked him as the top European skater ahead of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. The Los Angeles Kings selected him 11th overall, making him the highest-drafted Slovenian player in league history.
Anže Kopitar Career
European Career (2002–2006)
From 2002 to 2004, Kopitar developed within the Slovenian hockey system, primarily with HK Acroni Jesenice’s youth programs while earning senior minutes with HK Kranjska Gora. His performance at such a young age marked him as the most exciting prospect to come out of the country, and his family’s decision to seek stronger competition abroad proved pivotal. The transition to Sweden in 2004 broadened his game considerably, exposing him to the rigours of professional hockey on a daily basis.
During the 2005–06 season with Södertälje SK, Kopitar continued to refine his skills against older, more experienced opponents. Although he was drafted by the Kings in 2005, he declined an immediate move to North America, opting to spend another year in Sweden to further his development. That decision paid dividends, as he returned to the Kings a more complete player ready for the NHL stage.
Los Angeles Kings Breakthrough (2006–2011)
Kopitar made his NHL debut on 6 October 2006 against the Anaheim Ducks, scoring two goals in a memorable first game. He finished his rookie season with 20 goals and 41 assists for 61 points, placing third among first-year players and earning recognition as a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy. He was named the Kings’ Most Popular Player and won the Mark Bavis Memorial Award as the best first-year member of the organization.
In the years that followed, Kopitar quickly became the offensive engine of the Kings. He was selected to his first NHL All-Star Game during the 2007–08 season, finishing the year with 77 points and winning the Bill Libby Memorial Award as the team’s most valuable player. In October 2008, he signed a seven-year, $47.6 million contract extension, cementing his long-term future with the franchise. He posted a career-high 81 points in 2009–10, including his first NHL hat-trick, and led the Kings back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2002.
Stanley Cup Era (2012–2014)
The 2011–12 season marked the arrival of the Kings as a championship contender. Kopitar led the team in scoring with 76 points and then elevated his game in the playoffs, finishing tied with captain Dustin Brown for the team lead with 20 points as Los Angeles captured its first Stanley Cup in franchise history. Kopitar became the first Slovenian-born player to win the Cup and was subsequently named the 2012 Slovenian Male Athlete of the Year.
Two years later, Kopitar helped the Kings win their second Stanley Cup in 2014, leading the entire NHL in playoff scoring with 26 points in 26 games. Although Justin Williams won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, Kopitar’s dominance throughout the postseason was widely acknowledged as central to Los Angeles’ success. The 2013–14 regular season also saw him lead the Kings in scoring for the seventh consecutive year and earn his first Selke Trophy nomination.
Captaincy and Veteran Years (2016–Present)
On 16 June 2016, Kopitar was named the 14th captain in Kings history, succeeding longtime leader Dustin Brown. Earlier that year, he had signed an eight-year, $80 million contract extension. In his first season wearing the C, he remained a steady two-way presence, though his offensive numbers dipped to 52 points. He rebounded emphatically in 2017–18, scoring a career-high 35 goals and 92 points, winning his second Selke Trophy, and finishing as a Hart Trophy finalist.
Since then, Kopitar has continued to add to his legacy. He scored his 1,000th career point in 2021, passed Marcel Dionne as the Kings’ all-time assists leader in 2023, and reached 1,200 career points in 2024. He has won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy three times and the Bill Libby Memorial Award five times. In 2024–25, he recorded 67 points while taking only two minor penalties, earning his third Lady Byng Trophy. On 18 September 2025, he announced his plans to retire at the conclusion of the 2025–26 season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Kopitar is widely regarded as one of the premier two-way centres of his generation. He combines size, strength, and intelligence, excelling in both offensive playmaking and defensive responsibility. He is recognized for his anticipation, his effectiveness on the forecheck, and his elite faceoff ability, posting one of the highest career win percentages at the dot in NHL history. His ability to log heavy minutes in all situations has made him a cornerstone of the Kings’ identity for nearly two decades.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his career milestones, Kopitar reached 1,000 career points in 2021, recorded his 1,200th point in 2024, and became the Kings’ all-time assists leader in 2023. He scored his 400th NHL goal in November 2023 and recorded his 800th career assist in October 2024. He has been selected to multiple NHL All-Star Games, has won two Stanley Cup championships, and remains the most decorated Slovenian hockey player in history.
Anže Kopitar Career Wins
Throughout his career, Anže Kopitar has compiled a remarkable list of team and individual accomplishments. He has captured two Stanley Cup championships with the Los Angeles Kings in 2012 and 2014, leading the playoffs in scoring on both occasions. He has also won the Frank J. Selke Trophy twice, the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy three times, and the Bill Libby Memorial Award as the Kings’ most valuable player five times.
NHL Highlights
Kopitar has been a consistent offensive force in the NHL, recording seven seasons of 70 or more points, including a career-high 92 points in 2017–18. He has led the Kings in scoring 14 times and has eclipsed the 30-goal mark on three occasions. In the playoffs, he has delivered two of the most dominant postseason performances in franchise history, leading the entire NHL in playoff scoring in both 2012 and 2014. He has also represented the Kings at multiple NHL All-Star Games and was awarded the Mark Messier Leadership Award in 2022.
Other Wins & Performances
Beyond the NHL, Kopitar has represented Slovenia at numerous international tournaments, including the 2005 and 2006 IIHF World Championships, the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, and the 2016 World Cup of Hockey with Team Europe. He led the Slovenian league in scoring at age 16 and was named the 2012 Slovenian Male Athlete of the Year. He also led the Södertälje SK junior team in scoring during his single season in Sweden and contributed to HockeyAllsvenskan club Mora IK during the 2012–13 NHL lockout.
Anže Kopitar Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Hockey runs deep in the Kopitar family. Kopitar’s father, Matjaž Kopitar, enjoyed a long career with HK Acroni Jesenice, won three Slovenian league titles, and represented both Yugoslavia and Slovenia internationally. Matjaž later coached HK Acroni Jesenice during the 2006–07 season and served as head coach of the Slovenian national team from 2010 to 2015. Kopitar’s younger brother, Gašper Kopitar, also pursued professional hockey, playing junior hockey in the United States before turning professional in Sweden with Mora IK.
Personal Life
Kopitar met Ines Dominc in Slovenia in 2005, and the couple married in July 2013. They have two children: a daughter named Neža, born on 14 March 2015, and a son named Jakob, born on 5 October 2016. The family resides in Los Angeles, California, where Kopitar has lived since joining the Kings in 2006. He purchased a home in Manhattan Beach in 2014 and is known for hosting an annual charity golf tournament that benefits youth-oriented causes in both Los Angeles and Slovenia.
2025 Season Performance
During the 2024–25 NHL season, Anže Kopitar continued to demonstrate his trademark discipline and two-way reliability. He recorded 21 goals and 46 assists for 67 points in 81 games, while taking only two minor penalties all season. His sportsmanship earned him his third Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, announced on 12 June 2025, further cementing his reputation as one of the league’s most respected veterans.
On 18 September 2025, Kopitar publicly announced that the 2025–26 NHL season would be his last, signalling the end of an era for the Kings franchise. The announcement was met with tributes from teammates, opponents, and the broader hockey community, recognizing his two decades of service to the organization. As he enters his farewell campaign, Kopitar remains a central figure in the Kings’ leadership group and is expected to play a key role in mentoring Los Angeles’ young core.
With the Kings looking to build on their recent playoff appearances, Kopitar’s experience and faceoff prowess are expected to remain valuable assets. Whether chasing another deep postseason run or passing the torch to the next generation, his final season is poised to be one of the most-watched storylines in the NHL.