Kopitar draws praise from Dionne after breaking Kings’ points record

Kopitar’s trophy case is swollen full, too, with the 2012 and 2014 Stanley Cup; Frank J. Selke Trophy as best defensive forward in 2015-16 and 2017-18; Lady Byng for gentlemanly play in 2015-16, 2022-23 and 2024-25; and the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award in 2021-22. Only Gretzky, with seven, has earned more individual NHL awards with the Kings than the six of Kopitar.

Now, as he’s joined by Kopitar atop the franchise list he’s led for 45 years, Dionne considers the Kings’ new No. 1 with respect for a player whose career is nearing its end.

“Anze is not a pure goal-scorer,” he said, “but he’s an excellent, solid two-way player. He’s been a credit to his team for many years.

“I listen to podcasts and hear guys talking all the time about statistics and it’s never crossed my mind until recently that I’ve been No. 1 on the Kings points list all these years. Now Anze will be on top for a long time.”

Indeed, no one is giving close chase. Doughty, in his 18th season with the Kings and a Kopitar teammate for the 2012 and 2014 Stanley Cup wins, has 703 points through his 1,263 games. Forward Adrian Kempe, the nearest active player to Doughty, trails the veteran defenseman by more than 200 points (459).