EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Kings have signed defenseman Sean Walker to a four-year, $10.6 million contract extension.
The Kings announced the deal Friday with Walker, who was due to be a restricted free agent.
Walker is a former undrafted free agent who has played his way into an important role with the Kings in just three years. He has eight goals and 26 assists in 109 games over the past two seasons in Los Angeles, emerging as a productive two-way defenseman and an impressive, speedy skater.
The Kings originally signed Walker after his collegiate career at Bowling Green, the alma mater of Kings general manager Rob Blake. Walker excelled in the AHL and earned his NHL debut in October 2018.
He stuck with the Kings for good last season, getting five goals and 19 assists in 70 games. He trailed only Drew Doughty among Kings defensemen in points, ice time (18:50) and shots (127).
The Kings missed the playoffs for the second consecutive year after finishing the regular season with the NHL’s third-worst point total. Los Angeles has the second overall pick in the upcoming draft.
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