NHL star Anze Kopitar reveals the Montreal Canadiens as a potential destination beyond the Los Angeles Kings

Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar is a celebrated marquee player of the hockey league, who is known for his playmaking skills and excellent professional career in the NHL. The star player has opened up about his future beyond his own club, revealing that the Montreal Canadiens would be a preferred destination if he were to ever play for another franchise.

He revealed that in an interview with Elliotte Friedman before the Los Angeles Kings' game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday. Anze Kopitar revealed that if he ever had to play for a different team, it would be the Montreal Canadiens.

According to NHL reports, in around 61 appearances, Kopitar has 12 goals, 36 points, 24 assists, and a plus-minus rating of 17. The captain has also earned his 1,300th NHL point in a 4-1 loss at Vegas on Feb. 5, 2026, joining Dionne as one of 16 players to reach the milestone with a single franchise.

Anze Kopitar reveals that his other preferred team is the Montreal Canadiens, apart from the LA Kings

LA Kings captain Anze Kopitar reveals that his other preferred team is the Montreal Canadiens apart from his own club. The revelation comes amid the veteran forward’s ongoing final chapter in the NHL. Kopitar has already confirmed that the 2025–26 season will be his last, bringing an end to a distinguished career spanning two decades with the Kings

Ahead of the Los Angeles Kings' game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Kopitar had a 1-on-1 interview with Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, who asked the captain several questions that looked back on in his illustrious career. He was also asked if he wouldn't be a King, then which team would he have been in, to which he said it's the Montreal Canadiens.


Speaking to NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman, the Kings captain stated, "Honestly, I didn't, no. I felt like L.A. was my team, it's where I belong, and it didn't really cross my mind to where I'd go somewhere else. (If) I really have to pick… probably Montreal. I don't know, I just enjoy the city, I enjoyed playing there. Yeah, if I had to pick one, it'd probably be the Canadiens,” he admitted to Friedman.

The Kings' captain, who has spent his entire NHL career in Los Angeles, recently indicated that Montreal holds a special appeal due to its hockey culture and atmosphere. He has acknowledged that he enjoys playing in the city, making the Canadiens a natural choice if he were to consider a move away from the only team he has represented in the league.

Despite his comments, any move remains purely hypothetical. Kopitar is expected to finish his career in Los Angeles, where he has built a legacy and has been instrumental in the Kings’ success, including leading the team to Stanley Cup victories in 2012 and 2014. Over the years, he has truly established himself as a prominent forward star and a consistent leader both on and off the ice.