Recipients of awards

Kopitar played junior hockey for his hometown team HK Acroni Jesenice before moving to Sweden at age 16 to play in a more competitive league. He spent one season with the junior teams of the Södertälje SK organization, and then with the senior team of the top-level Elitserien. He moved to North America to join the Kings in 2006, one year after he was drafted, and he finished fourth in the Calder Trophy voting his rookie year. Kopitar’s dynamic offensive talent allowed him to immediately become Los Angeles’ best offensive weapon, though in recent seasons, he has improved his defensive game and has also emerged as one of the NHL’s premier two-way forwards. Praised as one of the best players in the League, Kopitar won the Stanley Cupchampionship with the Kings in 2012 and 2014, leading the League in post-season points on both occasions with 20 (tied with teammate Dustin Brown) and 26 points, respectively. Internationally, Kopitar has represented the Slovenian national team in several junior and senior tournaments, as well as at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.