The Los Angeles Kings have signed defenseman Mikey Anderson to a massive eight-year contract extension.
Looks like one of the Kings' best young defensemen is staying put in LA.
The Los Angeles Kings made big waves on Wednesday afternoon, announcing the club agreed to terms with Mikey Anderson on an eight-year contract extension worth an average annual value of $4.125 million.
The deal, which ties Anderson to Los Angeles through the 2031-32 season, kicks in at the start of the 2023-24 campaign, as Anderson is currently on the one-year contract he signed with the Kings right before training camp.
Anderson has taken a massive leap in his third full NHL season, setting new career highs in assists and points despite the season being only three-quarters of the way through while also logging a whopping 21:49 in nightly ice time. In 55 games for the upstart Kings, Anderson has racked up two goals and nine assists for 11 points, solidifying his role in L.A.'s top four and producing terrific defensive results in a shutdown role.
At just 23 years old, the Kings have now ensured that Anderson will be under contract at a reasonable cap hit throughout the bulk of his prime, with that price tag likely to only look like more of a bargain as the years roll on.
While some difficult decisions will need to be made next season to fit Anderson's new pay raise under the cap, the Kings clearly value the Minnesota native enough to include him as a core member of their roster.
And, with the Jakob Chychrun sweepstakes still ongoing, the GM Rob Blake may not be finished adding to his blueline quite yet.