It sounds like something out of a movie script, but a country that was said to have seven hockey rinks produced one of the  best players to skate in the NHL, so it is fitting that Kopitar made his mark near Hollywood with the Los Angeles Kings.

The first player from Slovenia to reach the NHL, Kopitar excels at both ends of the ice. With great hands and superb vision, he blends offensive creativity with defensive commitment. The result is a two-way force who seems to play his best hockey when the spotlight shines brightest.

The Selke Trophy winner in 2015-16 and 2017-18 as the NHL's best defensive forward, Kopitar played a key role in the Kings' first two Stanley Cup championships. During the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Kopitar tied for the League lead with eight goals, 12 assists, 20 points, a plus-16 rating and two shorthanded goals to help Los Angeles win the title.

In the 2014 playoffs, he led the NHL in points (26) and assists (21) as the Kings again won the Cup. His 74 points (25 goals) in 2015-16 made him the Kings' leading scorer for a ninth straight season, breaking Marcel Dionne's franchise record of eight straight (1975-76 to 1982-83).

Selected by Los Angeles in the first round (No. 11) of the 2005 NHL Draft, Kopitar made his debut with the Kings at age 19 on Oct. 6, 2006 and scored two goals against the Anaheim Ducks. He got three assists against the St. Louis Blues in his second game and finished October with three goals and 13 points in 14 games. Kopitar played in the 2007 YoungStars Game and finished the season with 61 points (20 goals) and 41 assists, ranking third among rookies in each category. He was fourth in voting for the Calder Trophy, awarded to the NHL's top rookie.

Kopitar earned his first NHL All-Star Game selection in 2008 and led the Kings in scoring in 2007-08 with 77 points (32 goals). L.A. named Kopitar an alternate captain Oct. 8, 2008, and in 2009-10 his 34 goals and 81 points helped the Kings make the playoffs for the first time since 2002.

In the 2010 playoffs, Kopitar scored an overtime goal in Game 2 of the first round against the Vancouver Canucks. He did it again in Game 1 of the 2012 Stanley Cup Final against the New Jersey Devils.

A tireless worker who has become an elite faceoff man, Kopitar won the Lady Byng Trophy for sportsmanship and skillful play in 2016. He was named Kings captain June 16, 2016. Kopitar reached the 900-point mark on Oct. 30, 2019.

Kopitar won the 2021-22 Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award presented to the player who exemplifies great leadership qualities on and off the ice and who plays a leading role in his community growing the game of hockey. The Kings captain has been at the forefront of helping promote hockey in Southern California, participating in several community programs including the Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Wags and Walks and the Kings Care Foundation. He was also voted by teammates as the Ace Bailey Memorial Award winner (most inspirational player) for the second consecutive season.

Kopitar scored four goals in a 6-5 shootout win at the Winnipeg Jets on Feb. 28, 2023, to tie his Kings record set March 22, 2018. He became the oldest player in team history (35 years, 188 days) with a four-goal game, passing Dustin Brown (33 years, 152 days April 5, 2018).

Kopitar won the Lady Byng Trophy, awarded annually to the NHL player voted to best combine sportsmanship, gentlemanly conduct and ability, for the second time in 2022-23. He was the first to win it more than once since Martin St. Louis of the Tampa Bay Lightning (three times from 2009-10 to 2012-13).

Kopitar passed Dustin Brown to become the Kings' leader in games played with 1,297, skating 22:59 in a 4-2 loss to the Boston Bruins on Oct. 21, 2023. He became the fourth player in Kings history to score 400 goals in a 4-1 win against the Vegas Golden Knights on Nov. 8.

On March 20, 2024, Kopitar had a goal and an assist in a 6-0 win against the Minnesota Wild at Crypto.com Arena to become the 52nd player in NHL history to reach 1,200 points. He got his 800th assist in a 6-3 win against the Golden Knights in Los Angeles on Oct. 30, making him the sixth European-born player to reach the milestone.

Kopitar earned his 1,300th NHL point in a 4-1 loss at Vegas on Feb. 5, 2026, joining Dionne as one of 16 players to reach the milestone with a single franchise. His power-play goal at 13:42 of the third period in a 6-4 loss at the New Jersey Devils on March 14, 2026, was point No. 1,308, passing Dionne for most in Kings history.

His 20-season NHL career, all with the Kings, ended after he played 18:30 in a 5-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche in Game 4 of the 2026 Western Conference First Round. For the fifth time, he was named a finalist for the 2026 Lady Byng Trophy given annually to the player voted best to combine sportsmanship, gentlemanly conduct and ability as voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.