Anze Kopitar Inks 8-Year Deal

“I always thought some day, somehow everything was going to turn around and go for the better, so I never really thought about this not getting done, ” Kopitar said told reporters in El Segundo after Wednesday’s practice.

Anze Kopitar’s patience is about to pay off – to the tune of $80 million. Dreger added that a no-move clause will be part of the deal.

Anze Kopitar had a power-play goal and three assists, and Alec Martinez scored the tiebreaking power-play goal early in the third period of the Los Angeles Kings’ seventh win in nine games, 4-2 over the Detroit Red Wings on Monday night.

Kopitar, who owns two Stanley Cup rings, will supplant star defenceman Drew Doughty ($7 million) as the highest-paid King next season. Kopitar is a very comparable player to Toews, meaning precedent is about right when it comes to the length and dollar amount of the deal.

Kopitar noted that this was the first time in his career that he’s had to go through something like this, stating that the situation was much easier when he signed his last contract with the team, a seven-year, $47.6 million contract.

While the price tag is steep, there is no way for the Kings to replace a player like Kopitar if they lost him.

This season, Kopitar leads the Kings with 23 assists and 35 points and is tied for second with 12 goals.

The Kings selected the centre with the 11th overall pick of the 2005 NHL Draft.