For the majority of NHL fans, Los Angeles Kings forward Anze Kopitar remains a mystery. 

Whether it's due to the coverage of eastern-based stars like Alexander Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby, the Kings woeful performances in recent seasons or a combination of both, most hockey fans have little idea who Kopitar is. 

So it's come as a surprise for those fans to see his name perched atop the NHL scoring race and goal-scoring leaders and second in assists nearly a month into this season. 

The first-ever Slovenian player in the NHL, Kopitar was selected 11th over by the Kings in the 2005 entry draft and made his debut with the Kings in 2006-07. He had a strong rookie season with 20 goals and 61 points but was overshadowed by Malkin, who won the Calder trophy as NHL rookie of the year.