Los Angeles Kings
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Jersey |
Manufacturer: Reebok
Material: Edge 2.0
Year: 2011-2014
Alternate (Purple): Anže Kopitar Size 50
Material: Edge 2.0
Year: 2011-2014
Alternate (Purple): Anže Kopitar Size 50
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Jersey History |
I really wish the Kings would bring back purple into their primary colors. The NHL needs more color. The Kings franchise started in 1967 with the jerseys having this style to match the Los Angeles Lakers colors. In 1988, the Kings would change up their style, logo, and color scheme to black and white to match the Los Angeles Raiders. The main crest and logo would change from the crown to a wordmark logo. The Kings would bring back the purple and crown secondary logo in 1998 while still using black and white and introducing a shield as the main logo. They would switch logos making the crown logo their main logo from 2002-2011 and the shield the secondary. In 2012, the Kings would yet again change the jersey style and logo switching back to only black and white and introducing a new shield logo. This style is still used presently. The Kings brought back the purple and yellow once in 1997 for their 30th Anniversary and from 2010-2014 in what they call their Legends Nights. This is the jersey they used for these games.
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Player History |
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Anže Kopitar: Did I mention I really like two way forwards? Plus you don't see too many players from Slovenia in the NHL so Kopitar became an instant favorite for me. Born in Jesenice, Yugoslavia, Kopitar grew up playing in the Slovenian Hockey League and Swedish Elite League before being drafted 11th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in 2005. He would join the Kings in 2006 and help them to their first Stanley Cup win in 2012 and also become the first Slovenian born player to win the Cup. During the 2012-13 lockout, Kopitar would go back to Sweden to play with his brother in the second tier league. Coming back to the NHL, Kopitar would again help the Kings to another Stanley Cup win in 2014 (with one of the best playoff series ever against the Hawks in the Western Conference Final). Even though the Kings post season success would stop, Kopitar remained a dominant player during the regular season. He would take over captaincy from teammate Dustin Brown who was declining in his career. Kopitar remains the captain of the Kings today.
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Kopitar wasn't always a two way forward though and broke into the NHL in 2006 scoring 20+ goals his first 6 seasons. Overall he's had ten 20+ goal seasons and three 30+ goal seasons. He's recorded 70+ points in 9 seasons as well. He had a career high 35 goals and 92 points in 2017-18. He's also led the Kings in scoring in all but 3 seasons. In his 18 seasons with the Kings, Kopitar has played 1373 games while scoring 419 goals and 1211 points. Once he got to his two way form he's won the Selke twice in 2016 and 2018. He would also win the Lady Byng in 2016. Kopitar is a 5 time All Star playing in 2008, 2011, 2015, 2018, and 2020. In 2022 he also won the Mark Messier Leadership Award. He was integral in the two Stanley Cups as well scoring 25 goals and 80 points in 97 post season games.
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Kopitar represents Slovenia internationally and his family has played a big role in developing the national team program. In the IIHF tournaments Slovenia has been up and down between the top division and Division I. Kopitar has played in the IIHF World U18 Championships Division I 3 times in 2003, 2003, and 2005. He's played in the IIHF World Junior Championships Division I 3 times in 2004, 2005, and 2006. He's played in the IIHF World Championships Division I twice in 2007 and 2019. He's played in the IIHF World Championships 4 times in 2005, 2006, 2008, and 2015. He's helped Slovenia to try and get into the Olympics in qualifying games in 2005. He would play in the 2014 Olympics after Slovenia was finally able to qualify. He would finally win a medal in 2016 winning silver representing Team Europe in the World Cup of Hockey.
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