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Kings re-sign Jack Johnson

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Kings fans can relax a little more now. The team has agreed to terms on a two-year contract with restricted free agent defenseman Jack Johnson.

The Kings had their eye on Johnson for quite a while before signing him in 2007, and he quickly became a key player in the team’s rebuilt nucleus.

The 22-year-old, known for his fierceness on the ice, matched a career-high with six goals -- three of them power play goals -- and 11 points in 41 games last season. It was only 41 games thanks to shoulder surgery in October. He had injured the shoulder while trying to knock the puck out of the air in a tight game with the San Jose Sharks. He returned to the ice on Jan. 17.

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Johnson, who signed with the Kings after his sophomore year at the University of Michigan, averaged 20:16 minutes of ice time per game (fifth on the team) last season. Despite their youth, he and Drew Doughty, 19, are regarded as one of the best defensive duos in the league.

Stay tuned to latimes.com/sports for the full story. And for fun, read what then-Kings beat reporter Chris Foster wrote about Johnson before the Indianapolis native was signed by the team.

-- Debbie Goffa

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