An emotional moment between former Los Angeles Kings teammates grabbed people’s attention on Monday.
With the Kings visiting the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden in New York City, N.Y., Rangers goalie Jonathan Quick and Kings forward Anze Kopitar were able to meet on the ice for the final time in their playing careers.
Kopitar will be hanging up his skates for good at the end of the 2025-26 NHL season, so Monday’s game at MSG provided an excellent opportunity for him and Quick to catch up.
Several Rangers players showed their respect for Kopitar following the game, with Quick waiting for all of them to finish before getting his turn to have a moment with his old buddy in LA.
The two hugged twice, and while it was just for a brief moment, it was a special one, considering their history.
— LA Kings (@LAKings) March 17, 2026
The interaction immediately garnered lots of reactions from hockey fans online.
Got the feels now ❤️
— KingsFan (@KingsFa33401159) March 17, 2026
I AM ABSOLUTELY CRYING. My top all time favorite players ❤️
— abbyyyy (@kotlsantamaria) March 17, 2026
— shyanna (@shylikeshockey8) March 17, 2026
Can't lie I teared up a bit
— Logan O’Daddy (@LoganODaddy) March 17, 2026
All of us pic.twitter.com/UGJYXVzpRN
— patrick morrison (@patrickm07) March 17, 2026
Kopitar and Quick won two Stanley Cups together in the 2010s with the Kings. The first one was in 2012, and the other was in 2014.
The 38-year-old Kopitar has spent his entire career with Los Angeles, while the 38-year-old Quick was traded by the Kings to the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023 before finding his way to the Vegas Golden Knights and the New York Rangers.
As for the game, the Kings scored a 4-1 victory, with Kopitar contributing an assist on a goal by Alex Laferriere in the second period.
