Los Angeles Kings defenseman Jack Johnson signed a seven-year, $30.5 million contract extension Saturday morning, then went out and matched his season high with three assists in a 6-4 victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Staples Center. Johnson's deal, which was announced shortly after the game, matches the second longest in franchise history. Anze Kopitar signed a seven-year extension prior to the 2008-09 season, 20 years after Wayne Gretzky signed an eight-year deal. Johnson said he has been working on an extension since October. Although he has gone through stretches of poor play this season, Johnson said the contract talks were never a factor. "It was actually kind of fun," he said of the negotiations. "It wasn't any burden at all. Go out and play hockey every night and try to play well and everything else will take care of itself." Johnson, a Michigan native who will turn 24 on Thursday, is in his fifth season with the Kings. He was the third overall pick by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2005, but opted to enroll at Michigan. After his freshman season, his rights were traded to the Kings. Johnson played one more season for the Wolverines then signed an entry-level contract with Los Angeles in March 2007. Read more: http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/nhl/news/story?id=6004418
