KOPITAR chat on the slovenian RTV.

[Sven-KopiRules]

There is a chat going on with Kopitar at the moment, wher Slovenian fans can set questions for him to answer. People are asking quite direct questions. Will provide a summary of the chat as soons as it's over.

KOPITAR rocks!

[trdi]

Already asked 2 questions, but I doubt there will be time... the interest shown is huge.
So far 2 things I found "most interesting":
Kopi said, that he wants to sign an extension. So stop the BS.

He says he works a lot on his physical game and that's something that needs a lot of improvement.

[trdi]

My question was also there, cool.

I asked him about one of the last DB's interviews, when he basically talked about some players who don't play with heart, they don't show effort sometimes. Brown said it's frustrating for other players (Captain material, anyone?)

I wanted to know are these mostly older players, mercenaries, as DL calls them, or is there any younger player amongst them. The diplomatic answer was, that these players "probably" lack motivation.

I think that DL needs to take care of these players, because they frustrate our young core and they obviously talk about it amongst themselves.

[Sven-KopiRules]

The most important thing for Kings fans is that he enjoys playing in LA so like trdi said stop the BS. He hopes that his brother shall make it in the NHL. He was supposed to have had a great year with the junior Kings. If he could choose linemates other than la kings linemates he would play with Iginla and Zetterberg. He hopes to be a 40+ goal scorer and 100+ points total on average. He said that Ovechkin was the better player this year between Crosby and Oveckin. He lives a good mile from the beach in a quiet area. He loves to sllep and hang around with his family and friends. He and Army salute each other after winning games (must say I haven't noticed that.

Anyway the guy is going to be a superstar for LA for the next 5-10 years at least IMHO.
KOPI RULES. The summer is damn too long. Still theres the world championships in Canada so we'll at least see 5 or 6 games out of him.

[BurekLord]

The Q&A translated (I did the transaltion on the fly so excuse any grammatical inaccuracies - also, I made a comment here and there encased in [] brackets - also want to buy a thesaurus! All these I wonder questions were making my head hurt...):

The guest of the internet chat room of MMC was the best slovenian hockey player Anže Kopitar, a member of the Los Angeles Kings.

If the 20 year old brought attention to himself in his rookie year, he only confirmed his talent in his sophomore year. The Hrušica born player scored 61 points in his rookie year with the LA Kings and added 16 more points in 10 more games played this year.

The Kings didn't manage to get to the players, but Kopitar was the best and most effective player of the klub. He also made his first appearance in the all star game. Now him and his team mates on the national team await the world championship of the elite division in Canada.

<Moderator> Welcome to the internet chat room of MMC. We will be joined by the hockey star Anže Kopitar at 11.45.

<stebo> Because you have such a good all-round game I'm interested if you think there are parts of the game that you can improve on to become the dominant player in the NHL like Ovečkin or Crosby (defense, pk, battles on the boards, hitting, forecheking, maybe more shot decisions, because we're all certain, that you would score more goals this way)? With years you'll certainly improve all elements of your game. I wish you all the best in the following years and of course, the Stanely Cup with the Kings or any other team.

<Anže> Hello, thanks for your question. I'm constantly working on all elements of my game, maybe sometimes I should take the shot, but the game is so fast that you have to decide in tenths of a second and it's hard to be smart about a decision you've already made.

<jvill> Which players would you most like to play with in this year's NHL roster (excluding the King's players)? Congratulations on a successful season and I wish you luck!

<Anže> Thank you for the good wishes. I would most like to play with Henrik Zetterberg and Jarome Iginla.

<floki> Anže all the congratulations for the successful season in the NHL!!! I'm wondering which klub in the NHL you'd choose for your next stop in would you come back to play in one of the slovenian teams at the end of your career.

<Anže> For now I'm still under contract with the LA Kings for another year, there's still a lot of time for an extention or a klub switch and I'm not thinking about that at this time. Otherwise I'd like to play another 15 years in America and if there's still the will to play profession hockey after that, I'll think about coming home.

<fmilan> Hello Kopy... Congratulations for the excelent plays this season. I'm wondering if during a game you had an urge to physically take on an opponent's player. Do you have an "guardian angel" in the team, the way Groznik is in Olimpija (Ljubljana)?

<Anže> Thank you. I'm on the ice to score goals, I don't think about fights Otherwise, we do have a fighter in the club and you'll most likely be able to see him in the world championship, he'll play for Latvia.

<thommy> Hello Anže! I'm wondering what you think is the difference between Slovenia and Latvia and what are the realistic chances of beating them in the following world championship?

<Anže> Our team is more expirienced compared to previous years, we of course respect Latvia, because we know they're a good team, but the team who plays better hockey for 60 minutes will be the winner. Of course we're big optimists.

<Sasoair> Congratulations Anže! What you did is really incredible! I'm wondering though, how life is in America? Did you adjust quickly? And do the Americans crowd you on the streets a lot?

<Anže> Thank you for the congratulations. Life in America suits me and I've adjusted quickly. This year was even better because my family was with me and I had a lot of visits. The Americans don't crowd me much.

<janez> Hello Anže! In the playoffs I'm rooting for Detroit, because your team didn't make them. I'm interested to know what your opinion is on the reason Detroit, who in the last 7 seasons was always 1st in their division, always gets outplayed in the quarter or half finals of the conference (with the exception of season 2001/02, when they won the Stanley Cup)? I'm also wondering how your brother Gašper is doing, who's also practicing in Los Angeles? Thank you for your anwsers and I wish you more success in your career. Janez

<Anže> Thanks for the questions. I don't know the reasons Detroit lost all those games. Gašper is improving a lot and is very successful.

<Miha> Do you think that your performances on the other side of the "pond" in Slovenia are well exposed?

<Anže> I think that they are, the responses are in my opinion good. I hope that I can make them happy next year with even better performances.

<stebo> Do you see yourself as a player that could in time score 40+ goals and 100+ points? I see you as that type of player!

<Anže> Thanks, it's quite tough to achieve that, but I hope I'll be able to surpass that barrier.

[BurekLord]

<inzaghi> Do you think that the absence of Jan, Terglav and Šivic will be noticable? And congratulations on the excellent season in the NHL and good luck in the following WC!

<Anže> Thank you. All three are good players, but all have their reasons not to play and the coach has his. Otherwise I get along with all the players on the national team.

<stebo> Do you see or hear from Jan Muršak? Did you ever meet? Supposedly Detroit sees him as an offensive presence that could be on the 1st or 2nd line. Maybe you two could sometimes play together on a line for Slovenia?

<Anže> I don't have connections with Jan, but I know he's a very good player and if a team like Detroit says good things about him, he has a good future.

<Zoki> Hello Anže! First congratulations for a super season (more your personal then the clubs')! I'm wondering how much more time you're going to insist with the Kings? Is interest among NHL clubs for you big? I wish you a lot of luck and success in your career, most of all, stay healthy!

<Anže> Thank you. I'll certainly stay with the Kings another year, as per my contract, then we'll see how things will go onward. I hope for an extention with the Kings, because I feel good in LA.

<hokejist> Do you already have a girlfriend, given your fame I think this shouldn't even be a question?

<Anže> Yes, I've had one for three years.

<gašper> Hello, first of all congratulations on the successful season. I'd like to ask if Slovenia has any chance to beat or atleast get a point against Canada and USA? And is there any other slovenian that has the chance to play in the NHL?

<Anže> Thank you. Both those games will be very tough, we know that we don't have anything to lose and we'll go into the game with heart [originally bravery, but I thought heart would be more approriate ]. In the junior category there are a lot of good players and I hope that one of them will come to the NHL as soon as possible.

<Gradi> Hello Anže! What are you predictions for the slovenian national team for this WC?

<Anže> I hope that we'll get as good of a result from the first games as we can, against Latvia we'll play for the win.

<LAK_Fan> Anže, first I want to congratulate you on your excellent perfomances and I'd like to ask you who you think will win the Stanley Cup this year and how do you look at the speedy knockout of the Ducks?

<Anže> Thank you. All the teams are basically very equal and it's hard to predict the winner. But I hope that the winner is from the West.

<stena> Hi. Will you play inline this year and if so, for which team? Keep kicking ass!

<Anže> I won't be playing inline this year.

<trillian> Hey! I'm your big fan [female] and I'm interested in more of life's matters. How do you communicate with your friends when your abroad? Do you even have time?

<Anže> I mostly keep in touch over the phone and over messengere if I have time.

<jakc@> How do you comment on Ivo Jan not performing for the National Team? Cheers

<Anže> I don't know the reason, so it's hard to comment on this.

<stebo> On the first two games in London I thought that you had a more physical game, but over the season it wasn't as much. Do you wish to develop this part of your game too, which a player like Ovečkin exploits more?

<Anže> I'm still developing my physical game on ice.

<sukenc> Hello Anže, when I'm watching you play you remind me a lot of Jagr in his good ol' days. Would you agree? I'm also wondering if you'll go to Detroit next year Congratulations and keep on your play, Jaka.

<Anže> Thank you for the compliment, Jagr is a very good player. Regarding next year I'm still under contract with LA Kings.

<ozza> Congratulations from Maribor. I'm interested to see how your life looks when you totally "erase" hockey from it. Are you happy then?

<Anže> I very much enjoy hockey and all the things that revolve around and evolve from it, so I wouldn't like to "erase" anything.

<anny> Hello! How do you look on the young generation of slovenian hockey players? Do you see anyone making it to the NHL?

<Anže> There are many good hockey players among young slovenian hockey players, so I hope that one of them will soon play in one of the NHL clubs.

<LAK_Fan> Hello, do you follow Saša [Aleksander] Vujačič on LA Lakers and do you go to any NBA games?

<Anže> I often meet with Saša and go have a drink and I also go on a game here and there if time allows it.

<stebo> Do you see your brother Gašper making it to one of the NHL clubs, as long as he keeps up with the hard work? What position does he play? How tall is he?

<Anže> I hope Gašper makes it. He plays the center or right wing position. He's 180cm tall [that's 5'11"].

<Datsyuk> Anže, given that you had your first appearance on the all stars game this year, I wonder what impressed you the most in Atlanta?

<Anže> What struck me the most was the everyone was really kind to me, even the biggest stars.

<demo> Hello Anže. Simple question, Ovečkin or Crosby?

<Anže> Ovečkin this season.

<BrokenSpoke> Anže, what's your impression when you come from LA, where you're one of many, to Slovenia where you're the centre of attention, especially among bandwagon fans (burek's note: I think that's what he tried to say)? How do your teammates look at you, do they tease you?

<Anže> It's nice to be back home, otherwise I more or less keep in the circle of my friends. The guys in the lockeroom do tease me here and there, but otherwise they're great

<Braindead> Congratulations Anže! I wonder if your games are always sold out and do you have to reserve your ticket or can you still buy the ticket on game day?

<Anže> Atleast half the games aren't sold out and you can buy tickets on game day.

[BurekLord]

<floki> What team would you most like to win the Stanley Cup?

<Anže> Anyone that shows the best game, otherwise I hope that a team from the western conference.

<g> Will you come to zako to play some basketball this summer?

<Anže> It can happen.

<PaP3k> I noticed that the national team often times decreases their level of play in the 3rd period. Is the reason poor physical preperations?

<Anže> We're very well prepared physically and I think that that won't happen.

<Sasoair> I wonder if you have time or the club's permition to go on a night out and if you too go to a party to relax?

<Anže> The season is very long and tough so there's no time for nights out, but I feel good in the company of my closest acquantances any time.

<plaguna> I watched the match against Italy on friday and I got the feeling that your teammates don't keep up with you, are there any improvements to be expected on this part of the game? Fenomenal play!!

<Anže> We weren't very tuned in this game, but by the WC everything will be in order and we'll show a good game.

<nekdo8> Congratulations on the excellent season Anže! How does your everyday life look like?

<Anže> Thank you. My everyday life starts with practice in the morning, then continues with lunch, rest and practice in the afternoon.

<floki> What Slovenian athlete would you invite to America to watch you play?

<Anže> I've already invited Jure Robič [<wiki link].

<venet10> Was it hard to get used to the bigger rink for the game against Italy again and are you more comfortable with the NHL size rink, which is smaller?

<Anže> I didn't have big problems, but I prefer the smaller rink.

<jvill11> Where do you see oppurtunity to improve on your game. Maybe on the physical aspect?

<Anže> Improvements are possible on all areas of my game, but maybe the most on the physical part.

<poči> Greetings Anže! Is any art in hockey or is hockey a part of art? Can you trust us with your favourite music genre... A lot of success and Stanley cups in the future !!!

<Anže> Whatever you take Hockey can be art and backwards. Otherwise I listen to Siddharta [most famous slovenian rock band], Linkin Park...

<fmilan> I believe that your 1st goal in the NHL against the ducks will remain in your best memory. But I wonder what goal from this year is the best to you?

<Anže> The most memorable goal will be the goal in New York at Maddison Square Garden.

<Moderator> We'll pose three more questions to our guest!

<Cwetko> Hello Anže, what goalie was it the hardest to score against?

<Anže> Jonas Hiller from Anaheim.

<hupl [alias trdi]> I know you're a young player and that it's not YET your role, but how is it when you notice that someone doesn't play to his fullest, without heart? Dustin Brown talked about this a few days ago and you probably debated this together? I don't expect any names, but are these players from the young core or the veterans that come to play for only a season?

<Anže> These are probably the players who aren't motivated.

<bobo> Anže, I noticed that you salute Derek Armstrong after a game Is this some kind of superstition? Is he your best mate on the Kings?

<Anže> I spend a lot of time with Derek, we drive to the games together. We do the salute whenever we win. Thank you for all your questions and don't forget to cheer for Slovenia at the WC!

<Moderator> Thank you for your cooperation in the chat room.

[rinkrat]

Thanks Bureklord!!

[TonySCV]

Thank you so much!