June 12, 2025, 2:29am
Los Angeles Kings Forward Anzekopiter is the winner of the Lady Byting Trophy given annually to NHL players who exhibit the most gentlemanly act.
Kopital learned that while playing a round of golf with his father, he won an award for his family vacation in Slovenia. After nine holes, daughter Neza and son Jacob informed him that he was the recipient of his Third Lady Bin.
“You’ve won the Best NHL Player Award,” Neza said.
Congratulations to “The NHL’s Wonderful Dad” @Anzekopitar #GokingSo | @nhl
– LA Kings (@Lakings) June 12, 2025
In 81 regular season games for the 2024-25 season, Copiter received just two small penalties for a total of four minutes. He tallied 67 points (21 goals, 46 assists) and added nine points (2 goals, 7 assists) in six playoff games.
Kopitar, 37, also won Lady Byng in the 2015-16 and 2022-23 seasons, becoming the 10th player to win at least three awards.
“To me, it just means bullying a gentleman,” said the king’s captain. “Hockey is a physical sport, but I think there is clearly a room among those parameters. [to be] Gentleman, good man, with respect to your companions, to the officials. Carry yourself where your kids are looking at you, and young children look at you, what are you doing on the ice? I think this illustrates how it is viable, and I’m honored to have won it three times now, and that means a lot to me. ”
Kopitar is a two-time Stanley Cup winner, winning Selke Trophy twice (2015-16, ’17-18) and the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award (2021-22).
He finished first on the vote with 856 points, followed by Braden Point (793 points) of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Jack Achell of the Vegas Golden Knights (782), Jack Covs Lavin of the Carolina Hurricane (760) and Knicks Suzuki of the Montreal Canadience.
The Kings chose Copiter in their 11th overall pick in the 2005 NHL Draft.
