This evening’s game at the United Center might, to some, look like just another good test for a young Blackhawks team against a stronger veteran lineup in the Western Conference that many feel could be a contender. But for some others, there’s a bittersweet significance.
On Saturday, the Los Angeles Kings activated their captain, future Hall of Fame center , off injured reserve. Which means he’s available for tonight to be the final time he skates against the Blackhawks at the United Center — if there isn’t a playoff series.
Kopitar, who announced in Septmeber that this will be his final NHL season, is legitimately one of the all-time greats. With all due respect to Wayne Gretzky, Luc Robitaille, Marcel Dionne, Dave Taylor and even Kopitar’s teammate, Drew Doughty, the current captain of the Kings is the greatest to ever wear that sweater.
His battles with Jonathan Toews in the postseason were some of the best hockey I have personally ever watched. The Kings and Blackhawks ran the Western Conference for most of the 2010s, and a great deal of that was because of their top-line centers.
After the Blackhawks’ morning skate on Sunday, I asked head coach Jeff Blashill about Kopitar. He referred to him — and others, including Toews, Patrice Bergeron, Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk — as “winning” players. Players who are committed to excellence on both ends of the rink and do all of the things that need to be done to give their team the best chance to win the game.
I also spoke with Jason Dickinson about getting another chance to play against Kopitar. He, too, used words like “winner” and “great” when speaking about Kopitar. Dickinson said he’s always looked at guys like Kopitar and Toews and tried to learn things and model his game after them because they’ve been so successful for so long.
Dickinson also marveled that Kopitar seemingly hasn’t lost much on his fastball and doesn’t play like someone his age (Kopitar turned 38 in August). And Dickinson said it’s good that an all-time great can go out on his terms while still playing at a high level.
Appreciate Legends While We Can
Kopitar came into his final season with two Stanley Cup championships, two Selke Trophies, three Lady Byng Trophies and the 2021-22 Mark Messier Leadership Award at the top of his Hall of Fame credential list. Tonight will be the 1,460th regular-season game of his remarkable career. Oh, and Kopitar has finished in the top-eight in Selke voting in each of the last four years — since he turned 34.
Hopefully, from a Blackhawks’ fan perspective, Kopitar leaves tonight’s game with the same 440 goals and 842 assists he has coming into the contest.
We’re getting to a point where some of the greatest players to ever do it are starting to file their papers with the league to step away. Over the past few years, Bergeron, Zdeno Chára and Marc-André Fleury have been some of the bigger names to call it a career. But that list is going to grow.
Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, Patrick Kane, Brad Marchand, Toews, Kopitar, Doughty and others are all at a point in their respective careers where we don’t know how much longer they’ll be active. The health of the overall NHL and the financial prosperity the league and its players are now beginning to enjoy was built by these guys, who helped hockey emerge from the disastrous work stoppage that cost the game the entire 2004-05 season.
Each of these superstars has written their own chapter in the history of the NHL. The game wouldn’t be what it is today without them. You cannot tell the story of hockey in the 21st century without them.
So, if you’re at home watching the game tonight, maybe a tip of the cap or raise a glass to one of the best opponents to ever skate against the Blackhawks. And if you’re at the United Center tonight, maybe give Kopitar some applause in his final appearance in Chicago. For all of the incredible moments we’ve witnessed over the past two decades.
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