Matt Murray has been a Kings fan since the late '80s, when Wayne Gretzky grabbed headlines by defecting to the West Coast. Since then, he has been a card-carrying bandwagon member as the club soared in popularity with their sole Stanley Cup appearance to their position near the bottom of the Pacific. But things are looking brighter, as he is anxious to witness the rise of the new Kings.
Anze Kopitar getting some love from around the league
So, as everyone is L.A. knows, Anze Kopitar has quickly grabbed the majority of the attention of Kings fans. Since he's in a fierce battle with Evgeni Malkin for Rookie of the Year honors, stories are finally following one of the few bright spots for the Kings this season.
The Edmonton Sun reported that it was Anze's sheer determination that won him his spot on the opening day roster. The Edmonton Journal points out that not only is Anze putting up numbers on par with the highly-touted Malkin, but he's only 19 days older than Sidney Crosby.
Anze Nation is in full effect. In an informal poll, the top gift received by many Kings fans this Christmas was a Kopitar jersey. Kopitar has ignited a spark with many fans this season. I, for one, check to see how he does in the box score before I check the game score. I scoff aloud when I hear radio and TV announcers mispronounce his first name. I've gained a respect for the country of Slovenia, whose fans have trickled over online to follow their lone hockey prodigy.
This season may be a rebuilding one for the Kings, but if the returns given by Kopitar are any indication, Los Angeles will soon be focusing more on winning the division and going deep in the playoffs than on a player winning the Calder trophy.
