Spotlight on: Kopitar

Kopitar is the future for this franchise.

Rich,

Long-time follower of the blog. I have to say (as many, many have already said) that you are doing an amazing job here. The best coverage of the LA Kings isn't in the LA Times or even NHL.com - it's here in this blog. I think I refresh this site more than CNN.com. Keep up the great work and thanks for doing this!

Rich, I think you made a typo there. "with being cocky".

Rich - what a refreshing change of pace from typical Kings coverage. Where were you when I was still in L.A.?!

If the Kings get a shot at a Stanley Cup any time in the next five years, you can lay odds that the centerpiece behind that push will be Anze Kopitar. And just how great is it that he's so humble at the same time.

He's a sure-shot face of the franchise.

You couldn't have picked a better player to start out with. After last year we are all excited to see what Anze The Great can do in his second season. Nice job Rich! Go Kings! Is it October yet?

I think he'll get close to the 30 goal mark and eclipse 50 assists. I thought as the season wore on that he showed more and more leadership, mostly by being more vocal. Concur with the #1 center.

Hey RIch..."His English skills are good and he managed to turn in an impressive season with being cocky."

Ummm...I'm sure you meant WITHOUT being cocky. :-)

My goodness, that kid is a talent. The goals are one thing (and that video is great!), but his presence with the puck is amazing to me, and he's got great hustle and heart as well.

I distinctly remember a game when we were losing toward the end of the third period, and on the penalty kill to boot. He hustled into the play on the backcheck and single handedly broke up what I remember as a 3-on-1 and a terrific scoring chance. A lot of players wouldn't have worked so hard in an obviously losing effort, but that's what Kopitar is all about. It is why he's going to excel in this league and it's a big part of why I'm excited for the future of this club.

First of all...we are truly lucky that we do have the rights to Kopitar and I forsee that he will be a King for a very long time. We are also extremely lucky that he was actually ready for the NHL this year. As we've learned from this blog, the Kings' Management and Coaching did not really expect Kopitar to play the 72 games that he did play.

One of the factors that really shows he is NHL-ready and a high caliber player, is the way that he carried himself in the last year. He began the season posting numbers that were pretty fantastic for a rookie year, plus he still remained focus on improvement and skating. I've said this before, but I truly believe that Kopitar was the leader of the team last year because of his ability to skate into the zone and create offense. The Kings were lack-luster in that category last year, and he stood up and took that role/responsibility as somewhat of a quarterback (he had 41 assists last year). I look for him to stand up and play this role again this year, however to a higher expectancy. With more quality supporting players, we could see Kopitar put up numbers comparable to Brendan Shanahan two seasons ago and Joe Sakic. We need to have him mature a little and remain at a level of modesty, but also an attitude of take charge. I do not expect him to carry the whole team on his shoulders because we won't win a cup that way, but I do expect him to play a key role. I actually think that he will post better numbers than Cammy next year. We'll see.

Also, someone wrote in that Jack Johnson + Kopitar = Stanley Cup...I would have to disagree. I think that for the Kings to win, they have to have chemistry. That was a problem in the last couple years; I felt that they lacked the kind of chemistry that would move our team to the next level. As for Johnson, I do not have as high of expectations for him. This will be his rookie year, he is not as mature as Kopitar is, and he is kind of a wild chance. Expect him to play - Definitely...but not to the level of Scott Niedermier...yet. From what I understand, Johnson has quite an ego, and I don't blame him...he's young, but he will have to control that factor and mature a bit more for him to really be effective.

Now, back to Kopitar. Like I said, he is poised to put up the numbers if a couple things can happen. One important factor: STAY HEALTHY. If Kopitar can stay focused for at least 75 games and be effective, then the numbers will come. If Crawford overplays him (which, I don't blame him, but Kopi is a sophomore, and they have tendencies to lose focus), then we could see fatigue affect his play. Another factor: DRIVE. I hear that Kopitar is one of the first ones on the ice and one of the last ones off. If his drive to keep improving remains at a level of intensity, we could actually see him break numbers closer to Kovolchuk. We need him to stay competitive. And most importantly: CONSISTANCY. He had a great season last year, but one of my complaints would be that he was not as consistant as we would have liked him to be; however, I understand his circumstance (and the rest of the team)...without a consistant goaltender (remember we had about 6 play with us last year) how can the team stay focused?

Anyway we slice it, Kopitar is a phenominal player (I will always remember his first game in the NHL and the way he sniped Giggy...coming from the right side of the net, in front of the tender with the hold, then the wrister top shelf -- poise that I would expect from a veteran like Marleau). We are truly lucky to have Anze with our organization, and let him be a King for LIFE!!

Well, Kopitar is certainly the Kings #1 C going into next season.

For a 20 year old, I'm not 100% sure that's a good thing, but with the lack of depth the Kings have, Anze will have to step up.

And as the #1 C, anything less then 80 points would have to be considered a failure.

The good thing is, Anze has so much talent, I beleive he's up to the task, and could approach 90 points with the right line mates.

And since you brought up line mates, I believed he should be paired up with Frolov & O'Sullivan. Yes, Patrick is very young and has a lot of development to do, but with proven scoring threats on his line, he'll almost be forced to step up has game and improve.

Currently O'Sullivan has the most offensive upside of any RW in the organization who's even close to NHL ready. Tukonen & Moeller (who I believe the Kings will move to a wing) may have the most offensive upside of any RWs in the organization, but they aren't NHL ready.

So back to Kopitar. I'm almost cringing as I write this, but I see him almost as a blend of Gretzky & Robitaille.

He has the hands and offensive gifts of a scoring center who can pass & shoot, and he's not afraid to park himself in front of the net and dare defenses to move him out of the way.

I just hope he lives up to my lofty expectations :), and that the Kings always start every offseason with making sure Anze is a King for the next season.

Anze will definitely be the face of the franchise for a long time. I would love to see an A on his chest next year and maybe a C later down the line.

Rich, if possible, could you ask Dean Lombardi where he had Kopitar ranked in his draft year (2005)?

The reason I ask and wonder is that during Kopitar's draft year, the Sharks traded up and ended up selecting Devon Setoguchi. Lombardi was not with the Sharks, but their head scout, Tim Burke, stated that they felt that Kopitar was "overrated."

Would Lombardi have been reluctant to select Kopitar due to him being from a non-traditional hockey background (even though he did grow up playing in Sweden). Lombardi clearly has a favors the North American style player, so it makes me wonder if the Kings would have passed on Kopitar had Lombardi been in charge of the Kings in 2005.

I don't say this to be a jerk, but I honestly believe that it could be in the Kings best interest to let AK be the #2 center at this phase of his development, and lessen some of the burden of expectations on him. He's gonna put up numbers and get plenty of ice time, but there's no reason to put the whole cart on his back. This team is probably NOT going to make the playoffs this season, so defining his role as the #1 guy only puts some unneeded pressure on him to deliver more than is necessary. Let a guy like Handzus take that top line center job, and groom Kopitar to be the heir apparent when the team has a reasonable chance to succeed.

He'll probably put up similar numbers as the #2 center anyway. It's possibly just semantics, but it just feels like too much is expected of this kid.

I don't say this to be a jerk, but I honestly believe that it could be in the Kings best interest to let AK be the #2 center at this phase of his development, and lessen some of the burden of expectations on him. He's gonna put up numbers and get plenty of ice time, but there's no reason to put the whole cart on his back. This team is probably NOT going to make the playoffs this season, so defining his role as the #1 guy only puts some unneeded pressure on him to deliver more than is necessary. Let a guy like Handzus take that top line center job, and groom Kopitar to be the heir apparent when the team has a reasonable chance to succeed.

He'll probably put up quality numbers as the #2 center anyway. Besides, with the cast of characters on the wings, it will feel like 1A and 1B anyway, but to annoint AK as #1 means the other team's checking line will be dogging him all season long. Personally, I would rather see them dog Handzus.

It's possibly just semantics, but it just feels like too much is expected of this kid.

HEY RICH THANKS FOR THE BLOG! I THINK KOPI WILL BE PHINOMENAL AND , WHILE I MAY BE LATE TO THE DANCE, LET ME SAY HE SHOULD BE DOUBLE SHIFTERD RIGHT AWAY. LETS GO KINGS!! AND A SHOUT OUT TO MY GAL PAL!

Marc, it really doesn't matter if Marc Crawford or we consider Kopitar to be the #1 or #2 center. In the end, the opposition is going to see Kopitar as the best player on the Kings and pit their best defensive line against whatever line he is on. In that case, rather than giving him less talented 2nd line wingers, providing him with the best possible wingers is going to be the best move for his development, simply because he is likely to be playing against the opposition's best checking line regardless of who his wingers are.
As fans, I believe that there is too much emphasis on who is on the #1 line or the #2 line. Opposing coaches are going to look at the Kings lineup and tactically match up their lines as they see fit. It doesn't really matter if the Kings have a #1 & #2 line, or a #1A & #1B line.

Disaster,

I am wondering why you label DL as a manager who clearly favors a NA player? This is a GM who went against the grain when every other team was drafting French Canadian goalies to start the Finnish goalie revolution. Most draft predictions that I saw for this year considered it a bad year for Euro draftees, so it was not necessarily a year to go out and pick European youngsters.

As far as whether DL would have chosen a player with a non-traditional background, he has had a history of reaching with his first round picks (ie. Hickey this year), so I could easily see him rolling the dice and choosing Kopitar if he was in Taylor's position in that draft.

I doubt that DL would have taken Anze in that draft but does it really matter now? We have him and hopefully will keep him for a long time! Now that I think about it, didn't Anze "fall" to us at our pick so maybe DL would have taken him?

Anyone else remember being impressed with Anze during the rookie all star game? I remember him hustling back on D several times. (Probably to get into the passing lanes of Malkin who was waiting around at his own blue line!)

HK Acroni Jesenice (Anze`s "home team") started with on-ice trainings for EBEL league, yesterday. Anze joined them for the rest of the month, until returning to LA (as reported on their homepage).

He also participated in a youth roller-hockey camp , showing his skills and sharing them with the kids. (There was a short report for the TV news and interview with one of the kids. He was a bit shy, but you could see on his face he would trade a Santa + two 1st picks for Anze the day before Christmas;). )

Just thought I should share this when I was reading about the heart and passion for the game and his desire to learn ...

And Rich, you`re The King. (...like you don`t know that already...)

Greetings to all from Slovenia!

Great blog Rich, I absolutely love it. I'm gonna have to agree with the guy who said that Handzus should be the #1 center. I think it will take the pressure of Anze and probably be a good thing from a match-up perspective by not having to always go against the top line.

Also I'm not gonna say that Anze has to put up 80pt or he's a failure. The better his supporting cast develops into, the better he'll play. Also I think his durability will be fine. He missed 10 games at the end of the season but from what I remember he could've played if the games really meant anything (although one could argue how many Kings games have meant anything in the last 3-4yrs) so there was no reason to pull a Beckham and put him at risk for no reason.

- transplant from HB, now the only Kings fan in NY

During Anze's rookie year, I could not help but observe a maturity and an intelligence about him that just personifies exactly who he is off the ice as well as on it. His command of the English language and the way he carried himself in numerous interviews last year, all this aside from his dazzling on-ice performances, AND at only 19, just beams how he could possibly lead this franchise as a captain. He absolutely impresses the hell out of me on many levels. I have to believe that any possible "sophomore slump" he may encounter in '08 would be handled by him with an enduring character that any GM would love to have in a young player on their team.

AK belongs on the #1 line. Besides his skills as a player, anyone who can produce in his rookie year AND learn English to the degree he has shows a maturity that is beyond his years. Take it to the bank, he will put at least 35 in the net this year.

He is the hero of this team. He just doesn't know it yet. He hasn't just provided on ice productivity. He is becoming the face of the franchise and has replaced Deadmarsh as the heart and soul of this team.

The skill. The hands. The vision. The hockey sense. The size. Best player on team. First line center. Powerplay. Penalty kill. Forecheck, backcheck, defense, hustle, drive, grit, composure, leadership, personality, humble, well spoken, well liked and respected.

Anze Kopitar is the face of the franchise and "The Franchise". Soon he will be recognized across the hockey world as one of the best players in the NHL.

Although not a 'top five draft pick', he more than fits the bill as a potential superstar, allstar, most valuable player, captain and Stanley Cup champion.

I love him. I hope he is a King for a long time. And I thank Dave Taylor and his people for taking a chance.

Kopitar's hands are sick. The video didn't show it but I believe it was the phoenix goal in which Kopitar is standing in front of the crease, the puck is in the air over the crossbar and Kopitar slides his hands up the stick, waits for the puck to descend below the crossbar and then taps it home.

Thats the kind of stuff that comes from natural skills and a natural gift of offensive awareness.

With the added depth at forward I don't see any reason why Kopitar shouldn't hit 30 goals.

Kopitar had an outstanding rookie season and barring injury should have an even better sophomore season. Predicting about 26 goals this season from Anze.

He's our #1 center, but may not be a true #1 center by league standards just yet. Kopitar must be an inspirational leader for that to happen, something learned and earned over time. I don't think there is any player on our team (yes, JJ included) who is as important as Kopitar.

I am crawling out of my skin waiting for this season to start!!! I have a strong feeling that the Kings will blindside a lot of teams with a winning force, that is only if Cloutier figures his shit out, and or LaBarbera rises to the challenge. GO KINGS!!!

K, goals are important... But it doesnt matter who scores it so I realy wouldnt limit players development solely on goals. Sure i was overvhelmed when i saw his first goal, but i cant forget the pass he made close to 5sec before the game end to Avery that scored a tiing goal (cant remember who they played with Kings@whoever :) ), that pass was "tha shit" :)
Excuse my language. What i realy wanted to say was he has the whole package so there realy isnt much new they can teach him. So ill have to agree get him a steady linemates to grow some chemistry. Obviesly he will be doubleshifted often so he realy cant be a sniper. So dont judge solely by goals coz many things must be made right befor the puck hits the net :)

GO ANZE, GO KINGS