LA Kings Sign Center Anze Kopitar To 8-Year Extension

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Center Anze Kopitar has agreed to a new eight-year contract with the Los Angeles Kings.

The Kings announced the deal Saturday after months of negotiations.

Financial terms weren't disclosed, but media reports pegged the deal at $80 million.

Kopitar was scheduled to be a free agent this summer, but the deal keeps the two-time Stanley Cup champion with his only NHL franchise through 2024.

The 28-year-old Slovenian star has been Los Angeles' leading scorer in each of the previous eight seasons, emerging as a two-way NHL standout with remarkable playmaking and scoring skills. He has 230 goals and 415 assists in 725 games with the Kings, who drafted him with the 11th overall pick in 2005.

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