Pearson’s new contract an “incentive”

Tanner Pearson, who recently signed a two-year, $2.8-million extension with the Los Angeles Kings, will progress from the entry level contract he signed in August, 2012, and look to build on the 67 regular season games and 25 playoff games alongside his name. Because of the small in-season and postseason sample size, “incentive” was a key word used by Darryl Sutter when describing Pearson’s progress.

“He hasn’t scratched it this year, and he got hurt and missed most of the year and didn’t play here much last year until the playoffs, if you look at it,” Sutter said. “It’s an incentive going forward. It’s not an accomplishment. It’s incentive going forward.”

Well, then.

But then there’s Pearson’s skill set, a heavy package of speed, forechecking and a crisp and accurate shot displayed through stretches of his 21 and 22-year-old seasons. The last player selected in the first round of the 2012 NHL Draft also has his name on the Stanley Cup.

When asked about the areas in which Pearson showed growth, Sutter responded, “I think probably the playoffs last year. Other than that, there’s a long ways to go.”

Hence, the term “incentive.”

“I want to be here as long as possible,” Pearson said. “I love L.A., I love the team, the fans, everything about it. It’s one of the best places to play, in my opinion. So to be here for at least another two years is special and I think we’ve got a pretty special team here, too.”

His signing also underscores the club’s attempts to lock in its young core. Jake Muzzin, Alec Martinez, Kyle Clifford and Jordan Nolan have all signed contract extensions in addition to Pearson this season; at 27, Martinez is the oldest of the group.

“Hopefully they take the opportunity of being held responsible and take the next step in their careers,” Sutter said.

Because results from yesterday’s X-rays indicated that a regular season return from a broken lower left fibula might be unlikely, Pearson might not take the ice with his teammates under a new contract until the postseason, should the Kings qualify.

“I’m still going day-by-day and I’m hoping to return as soon as possible and I just have a bit more healing to do,” Pearson said.

Tanner Pearson, on knowing that he’s going to be a part of the team’s core:
It’s exciting news. I think we’re both happy to get a deal done and to stay here is awesome, too. It’s good news considering yesterday’s news. It kind of gets a little stuff off my chest, but we still have the other thing to go.

Pearson, on how much he knew about the contract negotiations:
It was an ongoing process. My agent gave me updates probably three times a week of conversations that the team and we had. I kept a pretty close tab on it, as you should, and I’m pretty happy we got something done.

Pearson, on whether returning to the lineup in the regular season is realistic:
I don’t know. I don’t want to close it, there’s always that chance of seeing another X-ray and seeing if it’s good to go. We’ll take it day-by-day, as I said, and we’ll see what happens. [Reporter: Is that the next step? Do you have another appointment or X-ray you have to do?] Yeah, I think we have one scheduled. When that happens, we’ll go from there.