Anže Kopitar

Who is Anže Kopitar?

Anže Kopitar, nicknamed Kopi, is a Slovenian professional ice hockey center and alternate captain of the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League. The 11th overall pick in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, Kopitar became the first Slovenian to play in the NHL in 2006. Kopitar has spent his entire career with the Kings and has led the team in scoring for seven consecutive seasons.

Kopitar played junior hockey for his hometown team HK Acroni Jesenice before moving to Sweden at age 16 to play in a more competitive league. He spent one season with the junior teams of the Södertälje SK organization, and then with the senior team of the top-level Elitserien. He moved to North America to join the Kings in 2006, a year after he was drafted, and he finished fourth in the Calder Trophy voting his rookie year. Kopitar's dynamic offensive talent allowed him to immediately become Los Angeles' best offensive weapon, but in recent seasons he has improved his defensive game and emerged as one of the NHL's premier two-way forwards.