Kings reach agreement with Anze Kopitar on seven-year extension

Kopitar, 21, will earn $765,000 this season, the finale of his current contract. The new deal will begin next season and run through 2015-16. The cap hit will be $6.8 million a year, though his salary will be less than that in the first few seasons and more than that in the later stages.

"I don't think there was any question we were going to get five to seven or it wouldn't have made sense to do right now," Lombardi said, referring to the duration of the deal.

The signing locks in another piece of the Kings' projected foundation.

Winger Dustin Brown, the team's newly appointed captain, signed a six-year, $19.05-million deal a year ago. Patrick O'Sullivan missed training camp while negotiating a new deal but signed a three-year, $8.775-million deal earlier this week.

Defenseman Drew Doughty, chosen second in the June entry draft, also is under contract for three years and was scheduled to make his NHL debut Saturday.

"We have a lot of good young players here," Kopitar said. "Sully signed for three years and Drew, and Brownie for six years. These are guys that are the core guys of the team, and seeing that I just went for seven years and I felt comfortable with that.

"I really like L.A. I like everything about it and I just want to stay here."

Kopitar, who was designated an alternate captain last week, also said he was determined to forge an agreement before the season began -- a deadline he beat by about 12 hours. Getting it done amicably was important to him, too.

"I'm glad, so now I can focus on hockey," said the 21-year-old Slovenian, who led the Kings in scoring last season with 32 goals and 77 points.

"If I wouldn't sign you never know what happens and I definitely didn't want a Sully case again. That's pretty painful."

Brown welcomed the news of his linemate's new deal.

"It's just a commitment not only from the Kings but also from Kopi to be here for that amount of time and believe in what we're trying to do here," Brown said.

"That's the most important thing for me. When I see Kopi sign, he believes in the team and being here and making something special happen here."

Lombardi acknowledged there are risks in signing a young athlete to a big contract because he must make some guesses about character and potential production. Veering off into baseball, he said he jokingly asked Kopitar whether he wanted to be an Alex Rodriguez or a Derek Jeter because "one's a great player, one's a winner."

Lombardi added, "He seems on a solid base, the way he's been brought up and way he's conducted himself early in his career, and hopefully he won't lose that focus."

The checkbook might stay open while Lombardi tries to secure other youngsters to long-term deals. He wouldn't be specific, but defenseman Jack Johnson is a good place to start.

Kopitar was asked if he had left any money for Johnson, and he laughed.

"Yeah, I think I did," Kopitar said. "That's how it is. Business is business but it all comes down to the team, too, and I'm pretty sure they're trying to get Jack locked down too, and hopefully that will happen soon."

Johnson learned about Kopitar's extension after he came off the ice after the morning skate at HP Pavilion. Johnson greeted the news with a grin and praised the Kings for making "a commitment to the future and the young guys." He said he'd be interested if he's approached about an extension.

"I'm looking forward to having success here and the challenge of being part of a team that hasn't been doing well and becoming a premier team," he said.

helene.elliott@latimes.com