Anze Kopitar
| Anže Kopitar | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Kopitar in 2015
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| Born |
24 August 1987 Jesenice, SR Slovenia, SFR Yugoslavia |
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| Height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) | ||
| Weight | 224 lb (102 kg; 16 st 0 lb) | ||
| Position | Centre | ||
| Shoots | Left | ||
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NHL team Former teams |
Los Angeles Kings HK Kranjska Gora Södertälje SK Mora IK |
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| National team |
 Slovenia
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| NHL Draft | 11th overall, 2005 Los Angeles Kings |
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| Playing career | 2004–present | ||
| Website | http://www.anzeseleven.com | ||
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Representing Slovenia
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| Ice hockey | ||
| Representing Team Europe | ||
| Canada Cup / World Cup | ||
 |
2016 Toronto | |
Anže Kopitar (pronounced [anˈʒɛ kɔˈpiːtaɾ] ahn-ZHE ko-PEE-tahr) (born 24 August 1987) is a Slovenian professional ice hockey centre currently serving as captain for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL). The 11th overall pick in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, Kopitar became the first Slovenian to play in the NHL upon making his debut in 2006. Kopitar has spent his entire NHL career with the Kings, leading them in scoring every year except his rookie season. Following the 2015–16 season, he was named the Kings' captain. Noted for both his offensive and defensive play, Kopitar was awarded the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the best defensive forward in the NHL in 2016, as well as the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for gentlemanly play the same year.
Kopitar played junior hockey for his hometown team HK Acroni Jesenice before moving to Sweden at age 16 to play in a more competitive league. He spent one season with the junior teams of the Södertälje SK organization, and then with the senior team of the top-level Elitserien. He moved to North America to join the Kings in 2006, one year after he was drafted, and finished fourth in the Calder Memorial Trophy voting for the league's top rookie. Kopitar's offensive talent was immediately apparent when he joined the Kings, though his defensive developed in later seasons and he has become recognized for his two-way play, with two nominations for the Selke Trophy and one win reflecting this. Praised as one of the best players in the League, Kopitar won the Stanley Cup championship with the Kings in 2012 and 2014, leading the playoffs in points on both occasions with 20 (tied with teammate and former captain Dustin Brown) and 26 points, respectively. Internationally, Kopitar has represented the Slovenian national team in several junior and senior tournaments, as well as at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
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