Anze Kopitar’s “under the radar” goalscoring ability is finally spotlighted as he scores his 400th

“It seems to be happening every night. The sun comes up, it goes down, Kopi sets a record and we move on.”

In each of the last two games for the LA Kings, forward Anze Kopitar has reached a personal milestone, and it wasn’t the first two he’s reached this season. On Wednesday in Vegas, Kopitar scored his 400th career NHL goal, as he picked the empty net from distance to secure a victory away from home. Last night against Pittsburgh, Kopitar collected the primary assist on the first LA goal of the evening, as he surpassed Luc Robitaille for the second most points in Kings franchise history.

For a player who prioritizes the team over individual accomplishments, it’s nice to see the continued individual recognition thrown his way for a change.

“It should be recognized, I think everybody is doing a good job, and his teammates are, of acknowledging the type of career he’s had,” Todd McLellan said. “It’s happening over and over again, which is great for him.”

While last night’s achievement is a continued acknowledgement of Kopitar’s productive career, he’s still got one more name in his sights at some point down the road, as he eventually approaches Marcel Dionne’s all-time franchise mark for points as an LA Kings.

400 goals, though, will stand forever.

“He’s done so many good things for the league and entertained for so many years,” McLellan added. “For him to get to 400, it’s not often talked about when you mention Anze Kopitar, his goalscoring, but 400 is an incredible amount. We’re really proud of him and we’re lucky to have him.”

400 Goals for Our Captain @Yaamava | #MilestoneMoments pic.twitter.com/czHbKmWqOs

— LA Kings (@LAKings) November 9, 2023

It’s kind of funny that the player we’re talking about here is someone who has led his team in scoring in 15 of the last 16 seasons, a player who has 12 seasons with 20-or-more goals in his career and a player who is currently leading the second-highest scoring team in the NHL in goals. That’s the player whose goalscoring abilities are never talked about. But you really don’t hear about it very often when it comes to Kopitar.

It’s likely a result of all of the different facets to his game and all of the other things that he does. Kopitar is the King of doing the “little things” well, but with 400 career goals in the NHL, as a part of more than 1,100 points, he’s pretty great at doing the big things well, too.

“I think he does so many of the other things so well that he doesn’t get enough recognition for putting the puck over the goal line,” McLellan added. “Maybe we just take it for granted. He’s just an automatic for somewhere in the 20s to 30s in goals and the first time we would really focus on it, is if it didn’t happen. He’s consistently delivered, so there’s not much talk about it.”

While everyone throughout the hockey community has the utmost respect for Kopitar, starting with his teammates, there were still a few smiles when asked specifically about his goalscoring. Questions about Kopitar’s level of play have come in spades, to just about everyone who has played with him. It’s just rarely about his ability to put the puck in the net.

Make no mistake, though, those who play alongside him know exactly what he is capable of in that area.

“It’s super underrated, I think he’s leading our team in goals right now and no one even knows,” Kopitar’s linemate, Quinton Byfield, said. “He does everything exceptionally well, so that definitely goes under the radar, but you don’t win Selkes without putting up good offensive numbers as well. He does everything out there and his goalscoring ability, his finishing around the net, it’s really good and I’m excited for him to reach that milestone.”

THE CAPTAIN SCORES HIS 400TH GOAL pic.twitter.com/odWeJT1v3R

— LA Kings (@LAKings) November 9, 2023

Perhaps some of it is about the way that Kopitar goes about his business.

Rarely the loudest voice in the room, Kopitar is a high-level player who leads with class. Internally, he’s not always a rah-rah kind of guy, though he’s always willing to say what needs to be said. Externally, we see the calm demeanor and the way he goes about his business each day, as professionally as they come. He’s never been a 40-goal scorer or a Rocket Richard Trophy candidate, but it’s not as if the Kings have had a winner of that award, either.

Sometimes, with Kopitar’ style and all-around ability, you lose focus on the statsheet. Almost every night, though, there he is with a contribution.

“I think it’s easy to overlook it, just because he does so much and he quietly just puts up points,” defenseman Mikey Anderson said. “I feel like you notice him all over and he plays such a complete game that you don’t really focus on the offensive part of it, but then you look at the end of the night and he’s got a couple assists or he was able to bear down and score. It’s the reason why he’s played so many games, he’s got that touch. Hopefully he doesn’t slow down and I don’t think he will.”

You don’t reach 400 goals without the longevity that Anderson described. Kopitar is still doing it now, at the age of 36, and Anderson joked that we could still see Kopitar doing his thing into his 40’s if he wants to.

McLellan perhaps put it best though. Without Kopitar’s goalscoring, the Kings would find themselves short on more than just a few nights. If the offense stopped coming, that’s likely when any sort of concern would kick in, but when you have a player who you’re just naturally penciling in at a certain production level, who is still thriving in the other areas of his game, there’s not a ton more you can look for.

His teammates value all of those areas in which he contributes, but are certain to recognize the goals in light of his recent milestone.

“He’s such a two-way player that sometimes you don’t notice that he has 400 goals,” defenseman Jordan Spence said, with a laugh. “I think he’s just a great player. He really smart on the ice, he’s a great leader and that’s why he’s still putting up the points, even this year as well. It’s really cool to see and we’re really happy for him with his 400th goal.”

As the Kings progress this season, Kopitar has additional milestones still in his sights.

Entering Saturday’s game against Philadelphia, Kopitar sits two assists shy of Dionne’s all-time franchise record of 757, with all signs pointing to that record being broken in short order. A few other spots on the all-time leaderboard are up for grabs as well throughout the season across a variety of different categories, with the all-time games played record already set. The organization will recognize Kopitar with a ceremony later on this season in commemoration of all of this season’s milestones.

On the ice though, the Kings will continue to look towards Kopitar to lead the way and produce. It’s just what he does.

“What can’t you say about Kopi, he can do it all,” defenseman Matt Roy added. “If you get him the puck, he’s going make a play and whether he’s passing or scoring, he’s going to take care of it. We’re happy he’s on our team and we’ll just try to get him the puck as much as we can.”

Photo by Zac BonDurant/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

No practice today for the Kings, who will return to action tomorrow with a morning skate at TSPC, in advance of an evening tilt against the Flyers. Full coverage tomorrow as we get back at it!