Anze Kopitar will don the "C" a tad earlier than expected.

After being promoted to leader of the Los Angeles Kings earlier in the offseason, the 29-year-old Slovenian was named captain of Team Europe's World Cup of Hockey squad Tuesday.

Kopitar is one of the most accomplished players on Europe's roster, with two Stanley Cups to his name. He's coming off a 74-point season in which he earned the Selke Trophy for the league's best two-way forward, along with the Lady Byng.

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