LOS ANGELES -- Father time catches up to all, except Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar.
In his 19th season, Kopitar is on pace for 26 goals and 92 points, that would be tied for the highest-scoring season of his career at 37.
Does he finish the year with 92 points? Maybe not, but he's certainly on pace for another 70+ point season to complement his excellent 200-foot game. He's again a go-to player in all situations for the Kings and is dominant in the faceoff circle.
This isn't a case of Kopitar riding a hot team offensively either, Kopitar is leading the way in season 19. This Kings team has struggled for offense at times this season but Kopitar, along with linemate Adrian Kempe, has been one of the few consistent producers for Jim Hiller.
We know about the dominant play along the boards and the elite vision and playmaking, but Trevor Moore offered a new perspective on what makes Kopitar so good after Saturday's win against the Ottawa Senators.
"They play the game fast, but with their brains, does that make sense? They just put pucks in good spots," said Moore. "Kopi just knows where to be and knows where to put the puck. He's making the other team chase the puck rather than him chasing it, so it's cool to play with those guys and learn from them."
Referencing Kopitar making teams chase the puck instead of chasing it himself is a unique way to describe what makes a player great, but it makes a lot of sense.
It's not just a matter of controlling the puck, it's controlling the flow of the game. It's not done in the way someone like Connor McDavid does either. McDavid is making you chase him all game, Kopitar is making you chase the puck, chase the game.
When playing against him the opposition is constantly racing against Kopitar's brain, a race you'll rarely win.
Even after 19 seasons, there are new things to appreciate about Kopitar's game as he continues to be the leading force for this Kings team.