"Eventually it was going to happen," Kopitar, 38, reflected before the game. Kopitar will leave having written his name all over the Kings' record book. That drew the attention of the Kings, who took Kopitar with the 11th overall pick in the 2005 draft. "He hopes he's going to play here again," Kings coach D.J. Either way Kopitar isn't changing his mind; when the Kings' season ends — whenever that is — his career will end as well.

Source: Los Angeles Times April 12, 2026 02:10 UTC