Anze Kopitar, Kings Captain, Suffers Foot Injury
Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar is facing an injury absence that could extend for several weeks.
The news was confirmed this Friday, following the player’s absence in the 4-2 defeat against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday.
Kopitar’s injury occurred on Monday, during the game against the Minnesota Wild, when a deflected puck hit his foot.
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 been awarded the Selke Trophy twice, as the NHL’s most outstanding defensive forward. In addition, he is the second-highest scorer in Kings history and has been selected five times for the All-Star game.
The Kings have had a complicated start to the season, accumulating three consecutive losses and a 1-3-1 record. The new general manager, Ken Holland, made few changes to the roster that equaled the franchise records in points and wins last season.
Los Angeles will host the undefeated Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday night.
