Anze Kopitar, Kings Captain, Suffers Foot Injury
Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar is facing a period of inactivity due to a significant foot injury. The team announced that Kopitar will be out of action week to week.
Kopitar missed Thursday’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, where the Kings suffered a 4-2 defeat.
The injury occurred on Monday, during the Kings’ shootout loss against the Minnesota Wild. Kopitar took a shot to the foot from a deflected puck.
This season marks Kopitar’s twentieth and final year in the NHL, a career that has been entirely with the Kings. The Slovenian center announced his imminent retirement last month, at the start of training camp.
Kopitar, a two-time Stanley Cup champion, has twice won the Selke Trophy as the NHL’s outstanding defensive forward. He is the second-leading scorer in Kings history and has been selected for the All-Star team five times.
The Kings have had a difficult start to the season, with three consecutive losses, putting them at a record of 1-3-1. The new general manager, Ken Holland, made few changes to the roster that matched the franchise records in points and wins last season.
Los Angeles will receive Carolina, which remains undefeated, on Saturday night.
