Los Angeles Kings’ Anze Kopitar wins Mark Messier Leadership Award

The NHL announced on Wednesday evening that Los Angeles Kings center and captain Anze Kopitar won the 2021-22 Mark Messier Leadership Award.

The recipient of the 2021-22 Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award is… 🥁@AnzeKopitar of the @LAKings! Congratulations, Anze! 👑 #NHLAwards pic.twitter.com/Hq7rgxbWpO

— NHL (@NHL) June 2, 2022

The Mark Messier Leadership Award is given “to the player who exemplifies great leadership qualities to his team, on and off the ice during the regular season.” While nominees are suggested from fans, clubs, and NHL personnel, the three finalists and ultimate winner are selected by Mark Messier, who captained three teams and is the only player to captain two different Stanley Cup champion teams.

Kopitar played a big role on a Kings team who made their first playoff appearance since 2018, leading the team in scoring with 19 goals and 67 points in 81 games. It is the fifth straight season he’s led the team in scoring, and 14th time in 16 seasons. He also volunteered his time for many charity organizations in the Los Angeles community, including the Kings Care Foundation and the Make a Wish Foundation.

Kopitar has been the captain of the Kings since 2016-17 when the team removed Dustin Brown’s captaincy and gave it to Kopitar. He won the Stanley Cup in 2012 and 2014, although he wasn’t the captain during either win. He becomes the second winner of the Messier award in Kings history, after Brown won it in 2014.

Kopitar adds this award to an impressive collection of individual accolades, as he won the Frank J. Selke Trophy in 2016 and 2018 and the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy in 2016.