The Los Angeles Kings had to finish their game against the Minnesota Wild with two fewer forwards than they initially had on the ice. The team will be without captain Anze Kopitar, who is out with a lower-body injury, and right winger Joel Armia, sidelined due to an upper-body injury.
Kopitar left the game after nearly five minutes in the first period and did not return for the second. The Kings confirmed he would not participate further in the match. Armia’s exit was announced during the second intermission; he was ejected with over nine minutes left, leaving Los Angeles to play with only ten forwards.
Anze Kopitar serves as the Kings’ premier center, a role he has solidified over two decades with the franchise, alongside key players Jonathan Quick and Drew Doughty, forming a core that led the team to two Stanley Cup victories. However, off-ice issues and injuries have recently disrupted the team’s stability.
Currently in the final year of his 20-season career with the Kings, Kopitar has faced ongoing challenges this season, including a previous lower-body injury in October. It’s uncertain whether that earlier incident contributed to his current condition.
This season, Kopitar has appeared in 37 games, tallying six goals and 15 assists, leading the team with a plus-12 rating. Despite playing the least ice time of his career—just under 19 minutes per game—he remains vital, ranking fourth in average ice time among Kings forwards.
Notably, Kopitar is one point shy of reaching 1,300 career NHL points, a milestone achieved by only 38 players. Additionally, he is nearing 1,500 games played, a record held by just 24 individuals in NHL history.
Joel Armia, meanwhile, risks missing the upcoming Winter Olympics if his injury is severe. He was recently named to Finland’s Olympic team, with the games starting on February 11th.
This season marks Armia’s first with the Kings after seven years with the Montreal Canadiens. He signed a two-year, $2.5 million-a-year contract during the offseason and has contributed nine goals and 16 points in 41 games so far.
Fan Take: This injury news is a significant setback for the Kings, as losing their key center and a skilled winger disrupts team dynamics and performance. For hockey fans, it highlights how fragile success can be and underscores the importance of depth in rosters, especially during critical stretches of the season.
