Anze Kopitar is LA Kings' new captain as Brown loses job
LOS ANGELES (AP) The Los Angeles Kings have named Anze Kopitar their new captain, taking the job away from longtime captain Dustin Brown.
The switch was announced Thursday by Dean Lombardi, the Kings' president and general manager.
Brown had been the Kings' captain for eight seasons since 2008, raising the Stanley Cup in 2012 and 2014. But the American center's play has dipped markedly in recent years, failing to score 30 points in four consecutive seasons.
Kopitar is the Kings' first-line center and their leading scorer for nine consecutive seasons. The Slovenian playmaker has served as an assistant captain since 2008.
Kopitar is the 14th captain in Kings history. He has an eight-year, $80 million contract with the Kings through 2023-24.
Brown has a $47 million contract through 2021-22.
