- Calgary fans and both teams stood and applauded Anze Kopitar during his last NHL regular season game
- The Flames shook the Kings captain’s hand at the final horn, and Kopitar saluted center ice
- Read below for details on the pregame moment with Kopitar’s kids, the Saddledome tribute, and what is next
Anze Kopitar took one last bow in the NHL regular season. The Calgary Flames and their fans gave the Los Angeles Kings captain a standing ovation at Scotiabank Saddledome on Thursday, honoring two decades in the league.
A tribute video played on the arena scoreboard. Fans rose to their feet. Both benches joined in with stick taps, and Kopitar skated to center ice to salute the crowd.
The Kings entered the night already eliminated from playoff contention. This was the emotional farewell to a captain who announced his retirement last September after 20 NHL seasons. He has worn the “C” in Los Angeles since 2016.
Before the opening faceoff, Kopitar’s kids Neza and Jakob watched warmups from the Kings bench.
The moment felt earned. Kopitar built his career on steady two-way play. He lifted the Stanley Cup with the Kings in 2012 and 2014 and captured the Frank J. Selke Trophy in 2016 and 2018. His name already sits at the top of the franchise’s all-time points list, a milestone he locked up earlier this season.
When the final horn sounded, the Flames stayed on the ice to shake his hand.
Kopitar later joined his family in the visiting locker room for a group photo. He signed off with the same quiet class he has shown for two decades. Our coverage from September has the details on how he announced his plans to walk away.
One regular season game remains on the Kings schedule at home in Los Angeles. Thursday was the big tribute though, and according to NHL.com, he handled it the way he has handled everything else in his career.
