Anze Kopitar of the Los Angeles Kings won the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award on Wednesday, presented to the player who exemplifies great leadership qualities on and off the ice and who plays a leading role in his community growing the game of hockey.

Kopitar has been at the forefront of helping promote hockey in Southern California, where the center has spent 16 seasons with the Kings since being selected No. 11 in the 2005 NHL Draft.