Los Angeles, CA, August 7, 2026 —

The Los Angeles Kings announced that the franchise will honor long-time captain Anze Kopitar by retiring his No. 11 jersey and erecting a statue in his likeness outside Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

Kopitar, who has played his entire National Hockey League career with the Kings, is the franchise’s all-time leader in multiple statistical categories, including games played, goals, assists, and points. The native of Slovenia has been a cornerstone of the team since his debut in the 2006-07 season.

The retirement ceremony for his number is scheduled to take place on February 22, 2024. The specific date for the unveiling of the statue was not immediately provided.

Throughout his distinguished career, Kopitar has led the Kings to two Stanley Cup championships in 2012 and 2014. He has also earned numerous individual accolades, including the Hart Memorial Trophy as the league’s Most Valuable Player and the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct during the 2015-16 season. He also won the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the league’s top defensive forward in 2018 and 2021.

The decision to retire his number and honor him with a statue signifies Kopitar’s significant impact and legacy with the Los Angeles Kings organization and the city of Los Angeles. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the team’s history.

The Kings organization expressed its profound gratitude for Kopitar’s dedication, leadership, and contributions to the team’s success over nearly two decades. Further details regarding the specific events and ceremonies will be released by the team in the coming months.



Story summarized from the original created by Google News on news.google.com, see more information here.

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