Los Angeles Kings' legend retires after 20 NHL seasons

Slovenian ice hockey player Anže Kopitar brought down the curtain on a 20-season National Hockey League (NHL) career after the Los Angeles Kings were eliminated from the 2026 playoffs by the Colorado Avalanche.

The Kings lost 5:1 in the final game of their first-round series on 26 April, which Colorado swept 4:0, ending the career of one of the most accomplished players in the franchise's history, who had announced his retirement at the start of this season, CE Report quotes The Slovenia Times.

"It's a bittersweet moment," the 38-year-old said, reflecting on the end of a career that spanned two decades. "You wish it didn't end this way, but that's sport. I've been fortunate to experience so much over these twenty years."

A long-time captain and central figure in the Kings' rise, Kopitar led the team to Stanley Cup titles in 2012 and 2014.

Known as one of the NHL's most complete centres, he combined offensive consistency with defensive reliability, earning two Selke Trophies as the league's best defensive forward and three Lady Byng Trophies for sportsmanship.

Drafted 11th overall by Los Angeles in 2005, Kopitar spent his entire NHL career with the club. He debuted in 2006 as the first Slovenian to play in the league and quickly established himself as a cornerstone player.

Over 1,521 regular-season games, he recorded 452 goals and 864 assists for 1,316 points - all franchise records. He added 89 points (27 goals, 62 assists) in 107 playoff appearances. Fifteen times he finished a season as the Kings' leading scorer, with a career-high 92 points in 2017/18.

Kopitar also served as team captain for a decade from 2016, widely respected for his leadership and professionalism. Teammates and opponents alike paid tribute after his final game, highlighting his influence both on and off the ice.

"He's the kind of player everyone respects across the league," Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog said, according to NHL.com. "A true professional."

Kings defenseman Drew Doughty described it as difficult to imagine the team without him, praising his contribution to the club over nearly two decades.

Kopitar said he hopes to be remembered "as a good teammate and a two-time Stanley Cup champion."

Off the ice, he pointed to family as a priority in retirement, after years of balancing professional demands with limited time at home.

Born in Jesenice, Kopitar developed in Slovenia and Sweden before moving to North America. He also played a key role for Slovenia's national team, including at the 2014 Winter Olympics, where the country reached the quarter-finals.

His final game, played before a sold-out home crowd in Los Angeles, ended with a standing ovation.

"It hit me about, what, five, six minutes to go that this could be it, and for the last 20 years I've never experienced that emotion. It was, 'There's always a next year, there's always a next year.' Now it's done. It's hard to comprehend," an emotional Kopitar said at his final post-game press conference.

Photo: Boštjan Podlogar/STA