Kings sign forward Anze Kopitar to two-year contract extension (AAV: $7,000,000)

The LA Kings have signed forward Anze Kopitar to a two-year contract extension, carrying an AAV of $7,000,000 at the NHL level.

This is a move that we all knew was coming, it was simply a matter of when rather than if.

Kopitar said directly during his end of season exit interview that he wanted to sign a contract extension this summer, one-year out from his impending free agency. Kopitar became eligible to sign that extension on July 1 and now, less than one week later, he’s officially signing a contract that keeps him with the Kings through the 2025-26 season.

“For sure, I’ve said it before, it’s no secret, I want to stay here and be a one-franchise player,” Kopitar said. “We’ll see how that goes.”

Rob Blake always agreed with that assessment during his own exit interview, emphasizing his high level of play on the ice as well as his leadership in the locker room.

When speaking last week, after the Kings acquired forward Pierre-Luc Dubois, he reaffirmed that notion. Kopitar echoed that thought, as Blake said that he is hopeful to have something worked out before training camp begins.

“I’ve got a good timeframe of what he would like and we’re going to work on that throughout the summer and get that done,” Blake said last week. He’s a very important part of our team and we hope [to get it done before the season].”

Mission accomplished.

Instant Analysis –
You know the player here, right? Kopitar led the Kings in scoring for the 15th time in his NHL career, as he posted his highest total in goals (28) and points (74) since the 2017-18 season. At 2.37 points per/60 at 5-on-5, it was the second-best rate of his NHL career. Kopitar was also over 55 percent in the faceoff circle and he ranked third in the NHL in shots blocked amongst forwards and his chance suppression metrics in the second half of the season were among the league’s elite, once the Kings settled their lines. Kopitar won the Mark Messier Leadership Award in 2022 and the Lady Byng in 2023, showcasing his impact as a leader of this team. Kopitar delivers on all fronts, he’s a Mount Rushmore player for this organization.

“He’s terrific, he continually leads our team with his actions and off the ice, all of the things he does,” Blake said. “When we can bring different players in and surround them with players like Anze, it’s definitely a benefit for our organization.”

Would like to draw back to a story I wrote towards the end of last season as Kopitar’s campaigns for the Lady Byng and Selke Trophy were heating up. Kopitar’s teammates and coaches were very willing to heap praise on the captain for the little things he does at both ends of the ice to make the Kings successful. Kopitar’s offensive numbers speak for themselves, but they’re far from the only thing that make him an impactful player. It’s the two-way game that makes him elite. Read about a bunch of those traits HERE.

From a salary cap perspective, Kopitar’s new contract comes in $3 million less than his cap hit will be for the 2023-24 season. For a couple of reasons, this is a beneficial deal for the Kings. The $3 million in space will be important as the Kings look to continue to build out their roster and improve the NHL group. It also comes with the salary cap expected to rise around the NHL, which creates additional flexibility for a team that is very tight to the salary cap right now.

The Kings are an open book next season. Pre CapFriendly’s current projections, they now have 11 players (6 forwards, 5 defensemen, 0 goaltenders) under contract and just over $23 million to round out the rest of the roster, based on a projected cap increase of $4 million. Veterans Matt Roy and Viktor Arvidsson are currently slated to be unrestricted free agents next summer, while forwards Quinton Byfield, Blake Lizotte, Carl Grundstrom and Arthur Kaliyev are restricted free agents. Kopitar represented by far the largest deal to lock into place and now that he’s committed for the next three seasons with this extension, the cap landscape becomes much clearer to assess the rest of the group and other potential additions to the group.

That’s to come though. For today, we can be happy that Kopitar is back in black and white for another two seasons, continuing to lead the team forwards in hopes of being the one-franchise player he wants to be.

Rob Blake
We’re pleased to have reached an agreement that will keep Anze in Los Angeles as our group takes the next step in competing for a Stanley Cup. He is the heart and soul of this team as our captain and he will continue to play a major role on our club.

Anze Kopitar
Los Angeles has become home for me and my family, and I’m excited to extend my career here. I’ve been with this organization through it all and I know our group is close to achieving something special. I look forward to helping us reach that next level and achieving the ultimate goal of winning the Stanley Cup again.

From the team’s official release –

Kopitar, 35, recently completed his 17th NHL season – all with the Kings – as the team’s leading scorer (74 points (28-46=74)) for a franchise-record 15th season (fifth consecutive) to join Gordie Howe (17x) as the only two players in NHL history to lead the same franchise in points at least 15 times. Overall, Kopitar led all Kings forwards in time-on-ice per game (TOI; 20:18), power-play ice time per game (3:01), short-handed ice time per game (1:52) and faceoff win percentage (55.9%); ranked second in goals (28), assists (46) and plus/minus (+20) and established a new career-low in penalty minutes (PIMs) with four, the fewest of any player in the NHL to play 82 games last season, to earn his second career Lady Byng Trophy (2016).

Selected by the Kings 11th overall in the 2005 NHL Draft, the 6-3, 225-pound forward has accrued 1,141 points (393-749=1,141) in 1,292 regular-season games since making his NHL debut in 2006-07. Among Kings all-time leaders, Kopitar ranks second in games played, assists and game-winning goals (65); third in points; fourth in goals, even-strength goals (269), and power-play goals (111); and fifth in shorthanded goals (13). Kopitar’s 12 20-goal seasons are also tied for the most in franchise history (Marcel Dionne and Luc Robitaille) while his 139 multi-assist games and 283 multi-point games rank third and fourth in club history, respectively.

An integral part of the Kings Stanley Cup championships in 2012 and 2014, Kopitar has produced 77 points (24-53=77) in 92 playoff games and twice finished tied for the NHL playoff point-scoring lead (2012 and 2014). Among Kings postseason leaders, Kopitar ranks second in assists and games played; third in points, even-strength points (48) and plus/minus rating (plus-15); fourth in power-play points (26) and assists (20); and fifth in goals.

Kopitar has been recognized for numerous accolades throughout his career, including the Frank J. Selke Trophy (2016, 2018), Lady Byng Memorial Trophy (2016, 2023), Mark Messier Leadership Award (2022) and five NHL All-Star Games (2008, 2011, 2015, 2018, 2020). Kopitar is one of two players in league history to win both the Lady Byng and Selke Trophy multiple times (Pavel Datsyuk (4 Lady Byng, 3 Selke)) and joins Wayne Gretzky (3x; 1991, ’92, ’94) as the only players in Kings franchise history to receive Lady Byng honors more than once. The Kings captain is also just the third player in NHL history born outside North America to be recognized with the Lady Byng Trophy on multiple occasions (Datsyuk (Sverdlovsk, Russia; 4x) and Stan Mikita (Sokolce, Czechoslovakia; 2x)).

The Jesenice, Slovenia native has championed Slovenian hockey into the international eye, representing his home country on various international competitions, including, six IIHF Men’s World Championships (2005, 2006, 2007 (Division 1), 2008, 2015, 2019 (Division 1A – captain)), three IIHF World Junior Championships (2004 (Division 1), 2005 (Division 1), 2006 (Division 1)) and three IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championships (2003 (Division 1), 2004 (Division 1), 2005 (Division 1)). Kopitar also captained Team Europe to the championship game against Canada at the 2017 World Cup of Hockey. In 64 international appearances with Slovenia, Kopitar has posted 82 points (41-41=82) with 34 PIM and a plus-nine rating.