Kings sign Kopitar to an eight-year, $80 million extension

The new deal includes $18 million in signing bonuses and will keep Kopitar in L.A. until the 2023-24 season.

After days of speculation, the L.A. Kings announced an eight-year, $80 million extension for Anze Kopitar on Saturday.

The 28-year-old is in the final year of his seven-year, $47.6 million deal and was set to become an unrestricted free agent in July.

According to Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston, the new includes a full no-movement clause through 2020 and a seven-team trade list afterwards.

Kopitar, who leads the Kings with 23 assists and 35 points in 42 games this season, will receive a $9 million signing bonus on July 1, 2016 and another $9 million signing bonus on July 1, 2017 per ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun.

Originally the Kings’ first round selection (11th overall) in 2005, Kopitar has appeared in 725 regular season games with L.A. scoring 230 goals and 645 points.

The Slovenian also has 18 goals and 60 points 70 playoff games while helping the Kings win Stanley Cups in 2012 and 2014.

As Jon Rosen notes, the Kings now have $61.2 million in salary tied to 16 players next season, should Vincent Lecavalier retire.

Milan Lucic, Luke Schenn, Trevor Lewis, Christian Ehrhoff and Jamie McBain are set to become unrestricted free agents on July 1 while Brayden McNabb is a restricted free agent after this season.

As for what’s next for GM Dean Lombardi, Sportsnet’s John Shannon reports getting Lucic signed to a new deal is the club’s top priority.