Anze Kopitar, Kings Agree to New Contract: Latest Details, Comments, Reaction

After days of rumors and speculation, the Los Angeles Kings have finally agreed to a new eight-year contract extension with star forward Anze Kopitar. 

The Kings confirmed Kopitar's signing in an official press release, noting the extension will start with the 2016-17 season and run through 2023-24. 

TSN's Darren Dreger provided a year-by-year salary breakdown of Kopitar's salary for the duration of his new contract:

Elliotte Friedman of Hockey Night in Canada added that the deal includes "some" no trade protection over the last four years, while Chris Johnston of Sportsnet reported it includes a $9 million signing bonus paid out over the first two years. 

The 28-year-old Kopitar was rumored to be nearing an extension with the Kings recently. Lisa Dillman of the Los Angeles Times reported Friday that the two sides were finishing up details of his deal.

"Negotiations for the expected eight-year deal worth about $80 million remain in the final stages and Kopitar's agent, Pat Brisson, said via email that there were 'details to work on,'" Dillman wrote.

The Kings have done a fantastic job of locking up their core players to long-term extensions. Kopitar, Jonathan Quick, Jeff Carter, Dustin Brown, Drew Doughty, Marian Gaborik, Jake Muzzin, Alec Martinez and Kyle Clifford are all signed through at least 2019. 

Kopitar was drafted by the Kings 11th overall in 2005. He got to the NHL during the 2006-07 season and has had at least 60 points in eight of his first nine seasons.

He's won two Stanley Cups with the Kings already, and given the nucleus that's going to comprise their roster for the long-term future, this marriage figures to produce a lot more success for the player and franchise.