The Los Angeles Kings long contract negotiations with forward Patrick O'Sullivan ended Tuesday with the young forward inking a three-year contract extension.

O'Sullivan will be paid $4 million for this season but over the course of the deal the cap hit for the Kings will be $2.95 million per season.

By getting O'Sullivan under contract now the Kings avoided a potential contract holdout, something that's become a rarity in the NHL's salary cap world.

O'Sullivan had a breakthrough performance in 2007-08, with 22 goals and 53 points in 82 games as part of the Kings "young guns" with Anzer Kopitar, Dustin Brown and Alexander Frolov, and is seen as a key piece of the club's rebuilding program.

If he can post up similar or better numbers over the next three seasons that $2.95 million per will be considered a bargain, and in this era when teams re-sign young players to lengthy contract this one seems more prudent, although it was rumored the Kings were seeking a lengthier deal.

It'll also move O'Sullivan to within one season of his eligibility for unrestricted free agency upon the contract's completion.

He also missed all of training camp and pre-season and that could have an adverse effect on his play early in the season. History has shown that players who miss that preparation time struggle early and become susceptible to injury. Hopefully for O'Sullivan and the Kings that won't be the case.