Kings sign centre Kopitar to seven-year contract extension

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The Los Angeles Kings have signed center Anze Kopitar to a seven-year contract extension, the NHL team said on Saturday.

The Kings did not release salary terms, though the Los Angeles Times reported on its website (www.latimes.com) the contract, which will keep the 21-year-old Slovenian with the team until the 2016 season, is worth $47.6 million.

"Anze is a special player, but he has also shown a strong work ethic and the type character we believe is necessary to help shape the core of our team," Kings president/general manager Dean Lombardi said in a statement.

The contract is the second-longest in franchise history, the Kings said. Wayne Gretzky signed an eight-year contract in 1988.

Kopitar led the team with a career-high 77 points and 45 assists last season. He also was second in goals with a career-best 32.

(Writing by Gene Cherry in Raleigh, North Carolina; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)