It can be argued that Anze Kopitar is the best player (or skater at least) on the best team in the NHL. He was a huge part of the Los Angeles Kings’ improbable Stanley Cup run and has been a major factor in the team’s resurgence.

When it comes to fantasy hockey, Kopitar is usually picked lower than he should be. While the Kings don’t have an unstoppable offense, he is a terrific offensive leader who can pick up the slack when the team is having trouble scoring, and he will put up a lot of big numbers. He is also a prime player to have if you need plus/minus. He’s a decent two-way player himself, and the Kings’ outstanding defense and top-tier goaltending in Jonathan Quick make goals hard to come by for opposing teams.

Make sure you snag Kopitar a little earlier than usual in this draft. His name is more well-known now that the Kings are Stanley Cup champions, and he could definitely go in the first two rounds of your draft. There is always the lingering fear that he, along with the rest of the team, could suffer a Stanley Cup hangover; but it’s still a safe bet that Kopitar will give you points that you need in order to improve your team.

The one thing that could hold Kopitar back is the intense competition in the Pacific Division. Phoenix, the defending division champions, should trot out another good team this year; San Jose’s roster is too good not to play better than they did last year; and Anaheim and Dallas both improved over the offseason.

Nevertheless, Kopitar is the kind of guy that you want to have on your fantasy team. Make sure you get him while you can; he may go faster than you would expect.