There’s no better place to start than with Anze Kopitar, right? After all, he was one of the few bright spots for the Kings last season, as he broke through with 20 goals and 41 assists as a 19-year-old rookie.
The Kings pretty much got what they expected from Kopitar last season. During training camp in 2005, general manager Dave Taylor talked to Kopitar and tried to convince him to stay, but Kopitar had committed to one more season in Sweden and didn’t want to break his promise. If he had stayed, Kopitar would have been in the NHL that season. That’s how impressive he was in his first training camp.
Kopitar’s talents are clear. He’s 6-foot-4 with great hands and vision. He can power to the net but also knows what to do with the puck when he gets there. He’s never going to be the fastest skater, but he can create chances for himself and he had a handful of memorable one-on-one moves as a rookie.
Still, there is room for improvement. He will need to improve upon that 20-goal total now that he is clearly the Kings’ No. 1 center, and he must prove that his body, although physically strong, can hold up for 82 games. (Kopitar missed 10 games near the end of last season.)
Leadership also will be an issue. The Kings’ future is with its youth, and as the No. 1 center, Kopitar bears some of the responsibility for molding the Kings into winners. This shouldn’t be a problem. Kopitar is well-liked in the dressing room. His English skills are good and he managed to turn in an impressive season without being cocky. He’s polite and respectful but also knows how to joke around, and that’s impressive for someone his age. There’s also a desire to learn on Kopitar’s part, and not a sense that he already knows everything.
The biggest challenge might be for the Kings, to find Kopitar a pair of regular linemates — both 5-on-5 and on the power play — with whom he can thrive. Crawford loves to juggle lines but it might be in Kopitar’s best interests to remain with regular linemates and grow with them.
2007-08 potential: No. 1 center.
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