Kings lock up captain Brown

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Kings took another step toward keeping their core intact, signing captain Dustin Brown to an eightyear, $47-million US contract extension Thursday.

Brown, 28, helped the Kings win the Stanley Cup in 2012 as a point-a-game player in the playoffs. The extension means he’s signed through the 2021-22 season.

“He has a passionate caring for this franchise and is totally embedded in being part of it be successful,” general manager Dean Lombardi told the Kings’ website. “That’s the hallmark, first and foremost, of any great leader, and he just resonates that whenever you’re around him. This deal is designed to make sure it goes right to the end.”

The Kings have goaltender Jonathan Quick signed through 2022-23, defencemen Drew Doughty and Slava Voynov signed through 201819, centre Mike Richards signed through 2019-20 and forward Jeff Carter signed through 2021-22.

Brown’s deal is worth $5.875 million US per season. The right-winger negotiated his own deal, according to agent Scott Norton.

Brown had 18 goals and 11 assists in 46 games last season. He has 181 goals and 207 assists over his nine-year NHL career spent entirely with the Kings.

“He’s a classic case of somebody who’s grown not only as a player but as a man every year,” Lombardi said. “To see how much he’s grown as a person is as incredible as his game.”