There are a few defining moments in the history of the NHL in California that stand out. The Anaheim Ducks winning the Stanley Cup in 2007 and then the Los Angeles Kings winning it in 2012 each gave credibility to a non-traditional hockey market.
Wayne Gretzky’s trade to Los Angeles in 1988 might have paved the way for expansion to that particular corner of North America, but even the “Great One” was nothing more than a novelty act after his career had peaked. The Orange County rivalry between Anaheim and Los Angeles is as good as any in the NHL today and nothing embodies it more than the star players for each club.
Ryan Getzlaf and Anze Kopitar personify the teams they represent. Each center is super-talented, resting just beyond the elite players in the NHL. From a fantasy perspective each brings a unique set of talents and can greatly contribute to the success of your fantasy hockey team.
Getzlaf, the captain of the (former Mighty) Ducks is a gifted playmaker that has a mean streak a mile wide. At 6’4 and 225 pounds, Getzlaf is physically imposing with the silky smooth touch of one of the top passers in the NHL. His statistical peak occurred during his fourth year in the league (2008-09), registering 25 goals and 66 assists for 91 points overall. Since then Getzlaf has been producing at over a point per game, but hasn’t been at the 90-point level since.
A 2011-12 season was as bad for the Ducks as it was Getzlaf with Cup wining coach Randy Carlyle paying the price with his job. Anaheim’s star center was at the root of the problem setting career lows with goals (11), assists (46) and points (57). A return to form in 2013 under Bruce Boudreau has Getzlaf and the Duck faithful confident of a repeat performance for both team and captain in the season ahead.
A few miles away (30.4 to be exact) the king of the Kings is their most talented player, Anze Kopitar. The 26-year old Slovenian is a shifty skater and point-producing machine. He’s only an inch shorter than Getzlaf at 6’3, but plays like a much smaller forward. A slick playmaker with incredible vision on the ice, Kopitar can light the lamp as well. His 34 goals in the 2009-10 season were a career high and a reminder that the gifted Los Angeles center doesn’t always look to pass first.
Kopitar and the Kings had a disappointing season in 2013 unsuccessfully defending their Stanley Cup. Though he was held to below average stats last season, expect a statistical bonanza from the Los Angeles star.
When selecting the top center from the OC the word “potential” comes into play. What can you expect from either Getzlaf or Kopitar, and what sort of statistical performance can you predict from each? There is only two years separating the two with Getzlaf being the senior, so both are realistically in their prime.
I’ll give the nod to Kopitar based on what I have and haven’t seen from him. What I mean by that is that we have seen what he can do, but I think that there is still more of a career arc for the Los Angeles center. Getzlaf still has to prove to me that he can produce at the 90-point level from a few years ago. I think that Kopitar will prove that he can reach that level this year. Advantage Kopitar.