Kopitar, Greatest King

[57special]

To me, it's still Dionne.

 

[Beau Knows]

With all due respect to Dustin Brown, when the organization was considering erecting a statue outside the arena, did anyone think about holding off instead for a future Kopitar statue? I know Brown was a great captain, but it seems like a universal sentiment that Kopitar was a better career King player.

I don't see why they can't have more than 1 statue:

 

[Gurglesons]

all the hype Toews was getting was what Kopitar should have been getting.

1. Crosby
2A. Malkin
2B. Kopitar

No.

From 11-12 to 13-14 you could argue he was a top 3 C, only Crosby being better.. and you could argue that from 10-11 up to being robbed of the Hart he was a top 5 center

I mean. You could argue that, but it'd be wrong.

Getzlaf, Stamkos, Tavares, Giroux and Thornton were all better in those years.

Kopitar was a great player though. It's kind of weird how his individual success like Kane seemed to come after the cup years.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

ITT: Kings fans hail Kopitar as the greatest King of all time while other fans tell them they're wrong and it's Dionne or Gretzky.

never change HF

Seriously most of the Kings board is old AF, many have seen all those guys play, we even have some OG season ticket holders, this isn't a board of 14 year olds watching hockey for the first time

Kopitar's got duration and results over both in addition to being every bit as classy and revered amongst his peers.

Surprised its been nearly unanimous for Kopi bring the greatest King of all time. Is there really no argument between him and Doughty for greatest King of all time?

Kopitar has seemingly aged better since Doughty has barely received Norris votes since 2018- present day.

But Doughty was top 3 in his position for 4 years and arguably more, being a Norris finalist 4 times in his career and from 2009-2017 was basically at least a top 10 defenseman.

I don't think you can say the same for Kopitar. Particularly being top 3 in his position except for the one time he was a Hart finalist.

He's got a little more racetrack left, i def think there's an argument to be made but not yet.

But calling him more controversial would be an understatement

 

[King'sPawn]

.Kopitar was a great player though. It's kind of weird how his individual success like Kane seemed to come after the cup years.

I mean, he led his team in scoring both years they won the cup while also being the team's top defensive forward. He was a legit Conn Smythe candidate for both cup wins.

He's had an exceptional career, and while he may not have the high-end skill of the others you mentioned, he's arguably one of the most consistent and complete players in Kings history. There's a reason this thread was started, and it wasn't a Kings fan.

 

[Gurglesons]

I mean, he led his team in scoring both years they won the cup while also being the team's top defensive forward. He was a legit Conn Smythe candidate for both cup wins.

He's had an exceptional career, and while he may not have the high-end skill of the others you mentioned, he's arguably one of the most consistent and complete players in Kings history. There's a reason this thread was started, and it wasn't a Kings fan.

I've been rooting for the Kings since Kopitar joined them.

He's a great player. Just never would've said he was top 3 at C in the league. Top 5 maybe.

I imagine the individual success had to do with Sutter's influence.

 

[Sniper99]

Best and greatest are two different things.

Best - Gretzky
Greatest - Kopitar

Worst- Aki Berg?

 

[tfwnogf]

Dwight King is the literal King of the Kings

 

[Lt Dan]

Seriously most of the Kings board is old AF, many have seen all those guys play, we even have some OG season ticket holders, this isn't a board of 14 year olds watching hockey for the first time

It's true. I am 309 years old

Dwight King is the literal King of the Kings

Best smile and troll face, ever

but far from the greatest King ever

 

[raswilliam]

Kopitar was a great player though. It's kind of weird how his individual success like Kane seemed to come after the cup years.

he was no longer playing in the Darryl Sutter D first system.

 

[LeftKinger]

ITT: Kings fans hail Kopitar as the greatest King of all time while other fans tell them they're wrong and it's Dionne or Gretzky.

never change HF

Seriously most of the Kings board is old AF, many have seen all those guys play, we even have some OG season ticket holders, this isn't a board of 14 year olds watching hockey for the first time

Kopitar's got duration and results over both in addition to being every bit as classy and revered amongst his peers.



He's got a little more racetrack left, i def think there's an argument to be made but not yet.

But calling him more controversial would be an understatement

Jw is 32 old af?

 

[Gurglesons]

he was no longer playing in the Darryl Sutter D first system.

Yeah that's what I assumed.

 

[Frolov 6'3]

With all due respect to Dustin Brown, when the organization was considering erecting a statue outside the arena, did anyone think about holding off instead for a future Kopitar statue? I know Brown was a great captain, but it seems like a universal sentiment that Kopitar was a better career King player.

That statue for Brown was a farce.

 

[danpantz]

Probably would go with Richard I

 

[Dueling Banjos]

Underrated ish is middle name

 

[kingsholygrail]

With all due respect to Dustin Brown, when the organization was considering erecting a statue outside the arena, did anyone think about holding off instead for a future Kopitar statue? I know Brown was a great captain, but it seems like a universal sentiment that Kopitar was a better career King player.

Implying there won't be a Kopitar, Doughty, and Quick statue after they are retired.

 

[Fripp]

Implying there won't be a Kopitar, Doughty, and Quick statue after they are retired.

Yeah, I think everyone expects that the big four will all be there very soon.

 

[kingsholygrail]

Yeah, I think everyone expects that the big four will all be there very soon.

I think Quick will be the next one to retire. Kopitar seems to have found the fountain of youth and Doughty is the youngest of the group of course.

 

[Vamos Rafa]

Second best player from the 2005 draft

 

[Terry Yake]

Been an absolute pleasure to watch his career thus far. The greatest King in my eyes. I still remember running around my living room as a teenager when he went around Pronger in his first game. You knew then that the Kings had something special. Only real hope Kings had had since 2001.

yeah, you really couldn't ask for a more memorable first goal. not everyday you see a 19 year old make an all time great d-man look bad. it was obvious he was going to be a star after that

 

[MacMacandBarbie]

Surprised its been nearly unanimous for Kopi bring the greatest King of all time. Is there really no argument between him and Doughty for greatest King of all time?

Kopitar has seemingly aged better since Doughty has barely received Norris votes since 2018- present day.

But Doughty was top 3 in his position for 4 years and arguably more, being a Norris finalist 4 times in his career and from 2009-2017 was basically at least a top 10 defenseman.

I don't think you can say the same for Kopitar. Particularly being top 3 in his position except for the one time he was a Hart finalist.

Quick and Doughty both have their own arguments for sure, this just seems to be more of a Kopitar appreciation thread.

all the hype Toews was getting was what Kopitar should have been getting.

1. Crosby
2A. Malkin
2B. Kopitar

Toews was better in his prime, I’m sorry. Dude went from overrated to underrated on here quite fast.

 

[Tom Polakis]

That statue for Brown was a farce.

That certainly wasn't the answer I was after when I asked about the Brown statue. I didn't think of multiple statues, which is fine. I was fixating on something like the Bobby Orr statue outside TD Garden.

 

[Telos]

Surprised its been nearly unanimous for Kopi bring the greatest King of all time. Is there really no argument between him and Doughty for greatest King of all time?

Kopitar has seemingly aged better since Doughty has barely received Norris votes since 2018- present day.

But Doughty was top 3 in his position for 4 years and arguably more, being a Norris finalist 4 times in his career and from 2009-2017 was basically at least a top 10 defenseman.

I don't think you can say the same for Kopitar. Particularly being top 3 in his position except for the one time he was a Hart finalist.

I mean, there is an argument for everything on a message board, but at the same time, I will say that an argument can be made for any of the players mentioned because all of their names are or will be in the rafters pretty soon. Brown, Kopitar, Doughty, and Quick are all going to be hanging at Crypto Areno when all is said and done along with the rest of the Kings greats. I actually like that Doughty is getting some appreciation in this thread as he is usually the one most whipped outside of Dustin Brown.

All four were important and core to the organization during their success, but I think only Quick would have an argument to being close to Kopitar's importance, and that was mainly in 2012. Kopitar has been vital and relevant since he put on the uniform. After he dominated his first NHL game he never stopped, he has always had the team on his back ever since, his consistency is absolutely revered at this point in LA.

I think there are legit arguments for Gretzky, Dionne, Lucky Luc, and Kopi for greatest King of all time.

I don't think the two cup wins should immediately catapult Kopitar to the top considering at various times during those cup wins Quick, Williams, Doughty, Richards, and Gaborik were as, if not more, vital to their success. (Don't say this to disparage him, he's a brilliant player and obviously a monumental part of those wins. They don't win without him).

There's definitely a legitimate argument for any of them as their names are all in the rafters, but Kopitar is slightly unlike any of them as he was the foundation of the franchise since the moment he dawned the sweater and has carried the team ever since without falter through to the most success the franchise has ever seen. His career has been so perfect, complete, and he is so beloved on and off the ice throughout the franchise and league that it is hard to argue against him in terms of what he means to LA. Before him, it was an argument between Gretzky, Luc, and Dionne, but after him I would say that all of those were greats and the best at various things for the franchise, but none had the complete package and career Kopitar did.

It's Dionne at No. 1 and then it's Gretzky at No. 2. Then it's probably Kopitar, a hair in front of Robitaille.

He's the best that the current generation will have watched in person, though. That kind of thing really does matter. Comparing the people you know to the people you only know of is kind of comparing apples and oranges. I'm not sure we should do it as readily as we do.

I mean, you're not wrong in that those are the best players ever to play for the franchise, and sure opinions will vary and it should be taken into consideration if you are only polling people who have seen the current team and not the Gretzky/Dionne eras. The Kings have been around for a long time being an original/first expansion team. The fanbase is pretty varied in age and has a lot of older fans who remember the play of every/most Kings greats. Robitaille is my favorite King of all time, but when we are talking about the greatest King of all time we are not talking about who is the most talented or who we like the most, but who had the greatest impact on the franchise, fanbase, and community.

Kopitar is just the complete package, a lot of those greats will check most boxes which is why their names hang above, but Kopitar checks every single one. He was the best player on the team every single year he played, played the most games as a King, and has been with the team the longest over everyone, has been the most consistent and reliable in terms of production and coming in clutch when he is needed every time, has been active in the community and is heralded as one of the nicest players in the franchise and league, has been a leader and captain to the team for many years now, played the most important role overall but especially during the team's successful cup winning runs, etc. The list can go on and on but it would be hard to find a box that Kopitar couldn't check where it is relatively easy for any other player mentioned.

Ultimately, being that complete package and bringing success to a franchise that was starved for it for so long is just going to win you pinnacle admiration from the fanbase, community, and league as a whole. I can't see any argument against him other than people saying that he wasn't the most talented player ever to play for the organization which isn't what Kings fans are mainly considering when choosing their greatest and most beloved player.

With all due respect to Dustin Brown, when the organization was considering erecting a statue outside the arena, did anyone think about holding off instead for a future Kopitar statue? I know Brown was a great captain, but it seems like a universal sentiment that Kopitar was a better career King player.

Not really. Nobody outside of LA will understand Dustin Brown's impact on the organization, I think most Kings fans understand that after he was honored from other fanbase reactions. In the end, all four of Kopitar, Quick, Doughty, and Brown are going to have their numbers retired and statues made. That was a promise of AEG Tim Lewieke when the Kings won their first cup. Because every single King that gets their number retired gets one then there is no reason to slight Brown and wait for the others. Brown was the heart and soul of the team throughout his career and their cup wins, the most beloved captain/leader, and the longest-tenured King at the time.

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

asking as a non-kings fan: what makes doughty not a greater king than kopitar?

from my eyes, doughty was both the better player overall and the more important player those cup teams. and kopi had a two year head start, but in the end doughty might be around just as long.

 

[Tom Polakis]

Not really. Nobody outside of LA will understand Dustin Brown's impact on the organization, I think most Kings fans understand that after he was honored from other fanbase reactions. In the end, all four of Kopitar, Quick, Doughty, and Brown are going to have their numbers retired and statues made. That was a promise of AEG Tim Lewieke when the Kings won their first cup. Because every single King that gets their number retired gets one then there is no reason to slight Brown and wait for the others. Brown was the heart and soul of the team throughout his career and their cup wins, the most beloved captain/leader, and the longest-tenured King at the time.

Ah, thanks. I didn't know any of that.

I'm outside LA, and I understand Brown's impact. Last time my team was the least bit relevant was the 2012 WCF, and Brown was as good as anyone during that round. He did some shitty things during that series, but so did Doan, Hanzal, and others.