The day Anze Kopitar hangs up his skates will be a bittersweet day in Los Angeles. For nearly two decades, the leadership and guidance of the LA Kings began and ended with Kopitar. With nearly 1,500 career goals to his name, two Stanley Cups, two Selke Trophies, three Lady Byng Trophies and a Mark Messier Leadership Award, he has set the standard at every stage of the franchise’s evolution. But at the age of 38 Kopitar will eventually have to hand over the “C”. to someone else. The question is: who is next in line?
There is no clear answer today as there was when Kopitar succeeded Dustin Brown’s term in June 2016. However, a few names have risen to the top considering their impact on the ice, their personality and their contract status. The next captain must tick three boxes: he is committed for the long term, is a respected voice and can maintain a winning culture in the dressing room. With that in mind, here are the best options.
Why Drew Doughty would be a good choice
Drew Doughty’s name will come up in any captaincy discussion. He is two years younger than Kopitar and has been the Kings’ defensive engine for years. He’s loud, competitive, straightforward and impossible to miss. If leadership is about setting the tone, Doughty has been doing that since he entered the league nearly two decades ago.
Doughty wearing the “C” would make a lot of sense to bridge the gap before the next Kings captain is chosen. The organization could reward a franchise face who has sacrificed his blood, sweat and tears before the next generation develops into a new core group. With two cup rings, two Olympic gold medals and a silver medal, a Norris Trophy, while playing huge minutes in every situation, Doughty has led his team with confidence since 2008-09.
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The downside is the timeline. Doughty is deep in his career. By the time Kopitar retires, the organization might decide it wants to look to the future instead of moving the “C” twice in quick succession. But if the chamber decides they want another familiar voice at the helm, Doughty would be the next captain.
The Kings locker room needs a leader after Kopitar
The captaincy is less about one vote and more about leadership by committee. The Kings already operate that way, with Kopitar, Doughty, Adrian Kempe and others sharing some of the leadership burden. So it’s possible that the letters will be spread early in the next era of leadership, with Doughty wearing a “C,” Kempe or Kevin Fiala wearing an “A,” and a younger cornerstone, someone like Brandt Clarke, also wearing an “A.”
As the roster evolves and the balance shifts, the team can naturally shift the ‘C’ to younger talent when the time is right. It’s not as dramatic or striking, but it’s very similar to the way the Kings have handled transitions in the past: slowly, deliberately and with an emphasis on continuity going forward.
Kings are moving into a new era
The next captain will have to embody some of the “unspoken rules” that defined the Kings’ best years. The first thing that is non-negotiable is two-way buy-in. This franchise has always been at its peak when its best players cared as much about defending as they did about scoring.
The next captain would be a calm and stable presence in the face of chaos. The Kings’ biggest wins under Kopitar came in high-stress situations. The new captain will need the same ability to stay on the bench when things fall apart and be able to hang in there.
Finally, they must have a strong work ethic, responsibility and commitment to the next era. The team’s cup-winning seasons in 2012 and 2014 were not easy to build on. They were built on working shifts and keeping each other honest. That can’t change as the Kings look toward a new era of hockey.
Therefore, the job probably won’t involve having the loudest and most opinionated voice in the room or the biggest name on the scoresheet. It will be about combining the old culture with new expectations, such as more speed, offense and visibility in a crowded Hollywood sports market.
If the Kings want a short-term captain once Kopitar steps away, Doughty is the obvious choice if he still plays. If the goal is to make a definitive break from their old identity, a young long-term talent could get the nod sooner than expected.
Whatever the path, we know the transfer will be thoughtful and not rushed. The Kings have treated the “C” with real weight and respect for years, and replacing Kopitar won’t be easy. When that next captain skates into the Crypto.com Arena, it will not only mark the end of an era, but it will also indicate exactly what kind of team the Kings plan to be in the next one.
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