Latest News About Jernej Kopitar

Updated 2026-04-15 08:02

The latest news on Anže Kopitar is that he played his final regular-season home game for the Kings on April 10, 2026, became emotional thanking fans, and said he hopes to return for the playoffs. Another update says he has also been dealing with a lower-body injury and was placed on injured reserve, which could affect his availability in the short term.[1][4][5][6][10]

What happened

Kopitar’s home finale drew a strong fan reaction, and reporting from both the Los Angeles Times and NHL coverage says he thanked the crowd and hinted that he still wants one more playoff run in Los Angeles. The Kings’ postseason chances are still alive, so his farewell tour could continue if they qualify.[4][5][10]

Injury status

Separate updates say Kopitar is out with a lower-body/foot issue and was moved to injured reserve, with his return timeline still unclear. That means the immediate focus is on recovery rather than a firm game-by-game status.[6][1]

Season context

This is Kopitar’s final NHL season, and the current reporting frames the story around both his retirement announcement and the possibility of a playoff encore. He remains one of the most significant players in Kings history, with franchise records highlighted in recent coverage.[5][4]

Sources

Kopitar getting overdue recognition - ABC News

— -- LOS ANGELES -- Matjaz Kopitar remembers the scene vividly, standing at the airport with his 16-year-old son, Anze Kopitar, about to leave the family's home in tiny Slovenia to join a club in Södertälje, Sweden. … "We were standing there and, just, gone," he recalled of the airport farewell. "I started thinking, 'What are you doing? Are you crazy?' "It was almost as if you lost your kid [at a] young age. But that was the price we paid for his success." If there is a sense of an awakening...

abcnews.go.com