Ask Anze – Kopitar answers your questions from Sweden

A trademark of MayorsManor over the last few years has been engaging hockey fans in the conversations we have with players – from the prospects to the pros. We’ve reached out on twitter and facebook before practices or even in the off-season – we want to know what’s on your mind and what questions you’d like to have answered.

Knowing we were going to be speaking with LA Kings forward Anze Kopitar this morning, we asked readers if they had any questions for the 25-year old Stanley Cup Champion.

Of course, a number of questions came rolling in – covering a variety of topics – and here’s how he answered them…

Q: Has winning the cup changed you in any way and is it anything like what you expected?

A: To be honest, I didn’t know what to expect. So far, it’s been a blast – my summer and everything. I’ve had a lot of fun with it. I don’t think it’s changed me though. It’s just made me want to win another one quickly or at least a couple more as soon as I can. The ride itself, throughout the season and the playoffs, was unbelievable. So, as I said, you definitely want to do it again.

Q: Were you surprised you weren’t in top 3 for the Selke voting? Did you deserve to be there and with a Cup win, do you expect to be there now?

A: That’s out of my reach. It’s always nice if your name is mentioned and it’s too bad I wasn’t a finalist. Hopefully in the next couple of years or at least one time in my career I’ll get one of those trophies. I feel pretty confident there’s a few of them that I can make a run for and the Selke is one of them. So we’ll see if it happens.

Q: What’s his favorite restaurant in Bled (where he trains during the summer)?

A: Vila Preseren

Q: Kopi, fried onions on your hot dog in Sweden – yes or no?

A: No! (He then laughed a little and added that he’s not eating too many hot dogs though.)

Q: Which playoff goal did you like best – the short-handed goal vs the Blues, game one overtime goal vs the Devils or your game three goal vs the Devils?

A: Game one, the OT winner. (note: it took him all of a half-second to answer that question, wasn’t hard)

Q: Who is the toughest defenseman you’ve played against?

A: Robyn Regeher. He just always plays physical. He’s so physical against me. I don’t know if it’s any extra against me, but it’s tough to play against him.

Q: In the ‘Cribs’ video, the lady says ‘Let’s play scissors-rocks-paper’ – but, in America we call it rock-paper-scissors. Did she mess up or is that what it’s called in Sweden?

A: I think she might have been a little too nervous to get the order right because it is ‘rock-paper-scissors’ over here too. I think it’s the same all around the world, unless there’s something here in Sweden that I don’t know about. I call it ‘rock-paper-scissors’ though.

Q: Besides winning the Cup, what was your favorite moment this year?

A: Beating Justin Williams in ping pong.

We’ll be back soon with more from Kopitar as he prepares to face his old team (Södertälje) tomorrow.  We’ll also get his thoughts on playing in Sweden during the lockout, spending time with his brother Gasper, the upcoming Euro Cup and much more.

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