Since the NHL is now past the half way point with the All Star break coming up, it’s time for some tweaking. Waiver 
wire additions who are no longer streaking, like Reilly Smith, will need to be replaced. The player I’ve been toiling over the past few weeks is Anze Kopitar, center for the LA Kings. Kopitar is a known name, ranked 70 pre-season, and currently ranked 33 for the season – but not producing. Of course, the LA center scored a goal as I consider dropping him.
Kopitar consistently scores around four points (4.2 avg for the season) with a higher scoring game here and there. He kind of reminds me of Pepé Le Pew – bouncing along at a slow steady pace but still getting there. I never liked Pepé Le Pew. My favorite cartoon character is Slow Poke Rodriguez. Yes, he’s slow but he “packs a gun.” Kopitar has no bang.
Looking into the numbers, the skunk’s 33 ranking is a little misleading. The below stats are from Yahoo.
| Season Rank | 33 | Last 30 Days Rank | 116 | Last 14 Days Rank | 51 |
| Season Total | 202.6 | Last 30 Days Total | 39.4 | Last 14 Days Total | 24 |
| Season Average | 4.2 | Last 30 Days Average | 3.6 | Last 14 Days Average | 4.0 |
| Season Goals | 19 | Last 30 Days Goals | 2 | Last 14 Days Goals | 2 |
| Season Assists | 31 | Last 30 Days Assists | 8 | Last 14 Days Assists | 4 |
The average shows that Kopitar is consistent around 4 points. The last 30 days’ 116 rank is quite a fall from the 33 season rank. Looking at the last three years, Kopitar averaged 17.6 goals, 45 assists, and 63.3 points. Thus far this season, the Kings’ center has 18 goals, 30 assists, and 48 points. I am not confident that the current pace will be maintained. Kopitar’s highest career goal total was 34 during the 2009-2010 season.
The center position is one of the deepest and easiest to replace. So, after holding on to Jordy Nelson this past season, I’m pulling the Slow Poke Rodriguez trigger.
Follow Elaine @ElaineC_speaks.
