Kings extend captain Anze Kopitar's deal by two years

Captain Anze Kopitar has signed a two-year extension worth $14 million with Los Angeles Kings, extending his stay in the team. Kopitar, a key player in the Kings' Stanley Cup championship teams, is under contract through the 2025-26 NHL season at an annual salary cap of $7 million. Kopitar, a Slovenian center, was the Kings' leading scorer last year with 28 goals and 46 assists. His eight-year, $80 million contract is up after next season. Kopitar is one of two players remaining from 2012 and 2014 when the Kings won the Cup for the first and second times, along with defenseman Drew Doughty. Kopitar is excited to extend his career here and believes the Kings are close to achieving the ultimate goal of winning the Stanley Cup again. Kopitar has played all 17 of his NHL seasons with Los Angeles and has won the Selke Trophy twice as the league's top defensive forward and the Lady Byng for gentlemanly conduct. In 1,384 regular-season and playoff games, he has 1,218 points, ranking second in Kings history in games, assists, winning goals, points, and goals.