Anze Kopitar One Goal Shy of Wayne Gretzky for 6th-Most in Kings History

Los Angeles Kings forward Anze Kopitar needs just one goal in Thursday's game against the Carolina Hurricanes to tie Wayne Gretzky for the sixth-most in franchise history, per Sportsnet Stats.

Gretzky spent a little fewer than eight seasons in Los Angeles to reach that total, while Kopitar is currently in his 11th campaign with the Kings. However, Gretzky also played in a time where goals were scored at a higher rate.

Still just 29 years old, Kopitar recently agreed to an eight-year contract extension that keeps him with the club through the 2023-24 season, per Spotrac.com. This should allow him plenty of time rise up the franchise list moving forward. However, it would require a dramatic increase in goal rate if Kopitar has any chance of catching franchise-leader Luc Robitaille (557 goals).

Kopitar has been with the Kings since he debuted in the NHL in 2006-07, playing 784 games at the top level thus far. While he doesn't have a ton of individual awards to his name, he did take home the Selke Trophy last season. He was also a member of two Stanley Cup-winning teams, bringing the trophy to Los Angeles in both 2011-12 and 2013-14.

Los Angeles stood a decent shot at competing for the Cup again this season, but an early-season loss of goaltender Jonathan Quick for three-to-four months due to a groin injury muddied things a bit. If the club does have any intentions of making another postseason run this year, they will need to remain afloat in Quick's absence. Peter Budaj has filled in admirably, but Kopitar and the Kings attack need to get things going.

He'll have a chance to begin that momentum Thursday night, potentially moving up the record books in the process.