While the Los Angeles Kings try to build a roster capable of going deep into the playoffs next season, fans have begun to wonder what is next for forwards Adrian Kempe and Anze Kopitar. While general manager Ken Holland mentioned that extension discussions were going to get underway with Kempe, he delivered some not-so-positive news about Kopitar.
Kopitar, who is 37 years old, has scored 440 goals and added 838 assists for 1278 points through 1454 games in his career. He has spent his entire career with the Kings, helping them win two Stanley Cups in the 2011-12 and 2013-14 season.
Kopitar is an aging veteran, but he has been a key part of the Kings' franchise for a long time. Maybe he is considering retirement, but if he shows any interest in returning to the Kings, they should be trying to get him re-signed. They will have plenty of cap space to get an extension done, and it shouldn't be an issue to get both Kempe and Kopitar locked down.
It was clear that Kopitar was the one who wanted to take his time before deciding on his future, but it's interesting to note that he could be heading into the 2026 offseason as an unrestricted free agent (UFA) if a deal doesn't get done.
