The Los Angeles Kings head into the season with a new leader having named Anze Kopitar as their new captain. They’ll be hoping the burden of added responsibility isn’t an issue.
Anze Kopitar is definitely one of the three names you’d circle on the Los Angeles Kings team sheet as a game-changer. Last season, he ranked 9th in the league for assists with 49, as he tallied a 74 point haul.
Kopitar is a player that has scored upwards of 60 points in every one of his NHL years, excluding one lock-out shortened season. A shooting percentage that has never dipped into single figures during that time reflects his value to the Kings.
Simply put, Anze is that top shelf center that you need when you’re building a Cup contending side. He is the guy you build your offense around and the guy you want to lead from the front.
This year, he will be doing exactly that with a newly stitched ‘C’ on his jersey. The Slovenian-born Kopitar will be looked upon for leadership beyond his shooting abilities.
It’s clear for all to see that he is a great sportsman; his Lady Byng Trophy win is representative of just that. He’ll be hoping to reflect these values, especially upon the younger guys in the room.
For a player that generates so many assists, you might not expect such strong defensive skill. However, his growing trophy collection also saw the Selke Trophy added last season. Kopitar offers genuine reliability all over the ice because he is so comfortable going forward or back-checking.
The new season offers yet another chance for Anze Kopitar to dominate scoring charts for the Los Angeles Kings. His points contribution has proven vital, hence every Kopitar season, the team has been in contention.
For me, the biggest question this year is who partners Kopitar this season; will he more probably be iced alongside Teddy Purcell and Marian Gaborik?
Or does he possibly look to slot in with Tanner Pearson and Tyler Toffoli?
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Last season offered obvious ideas as to where he lines up, but Teddy Purcell being a newer addition throws a bit of a test at coach Darryl Sutter.
The Los Angeles Kings will need more of the same from Kopitar, who hopefully will not be hamstrung by the responsibility of captaincy.
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