Anze Kopitar's NHL career ends in Kings' Game 4 loss to Avalanche
Los Angeles Times • • sports
Key Points:
- The Los Angeles Kings were swept in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs by the Colorado Avalanche, marking their seventh first-round exit in the past 11 seasons despite multiple coaching and management changes.
- The playoff loss also marked the end of Anze Kopitar’s 20-year career with the Kings, during which he became the franchise leader in games played, points, assists, and was a key player in two Stanley Cup championships.
- Kopitar was widely praised for his professionalism and leadership, with teammates, coaches, and opponents honoring him during his final game and recognizing his impact beyond statistics.
- With Kopitar’s retirement, defenseman Drew Doughty is now the last remaining player from the Kings' Stanley Cup-winning teams and the last to have won a playoff series with the team.
- The Kings face uncertainty moving forward, including decisions on interim coach D.J. Smith’s future, questions about their goaltending situation, and the recovery timeline for injured forward Kevin Fiala.
