KINGS NOTEBOOK: NORSTROM SCORES TWO-YEAR CONTRACT.

Byline: Rich Hammond  Staff Writer

EL SEGUNDO - Mattias Norstrom, who next week will celebrate the 10-year anniversary of his trade to the Kings, will be staying with the team for at least two more seasons.

Norstrom on Monday morning signed a two-year contract extension that will pay him $8.5 million and keep the 34-year-old defenseman and team captain in a Kings uniform through the 2007-08 season.

The extension had been expected, but Norstrom said that negotiations had not begun until Thursday. Norstrom is making $2.66 million this year and will make $4.25 million in each of the next two years.

``I'm excited that the Kings were prepared to take this step to keep me here,'' Norstrom said. ``I was prepared, in my mind, that it might be time to move on. Give a lot of credit to the Kings, because they stepped up. This could have been a long process but it wasn't.''

Norstrom joined the Kings in the 1996 trade that sent Jari Kurri and Marty McSorley to the New York Rangers. Norstrom has been the Kings' captain since the start of the 2001-02 season and is widely acclaimed for his work ethic and leadership and his solid, intelligent play at the blue line.

``It's great, it's exciting,'' coach Andy Murray said of the signing. ``I think it's a great statement by our team. We need to be all about substance in our organization, and that's what he is all about.''

Known as a solid stay-at-home defenseman, Norstrom has already tied a career high with 22 points, including three goals, in 58 games this season.

``It's good to know that we're prepared to not only keep our young players that are going to be our future, but that we're also prepared to keep older players if they can contribute,'' Norstrom said.

Norstrom's signing leaves the Kings with five potential unrestricted free agents this summer: Valeri Bure, Joe Corvo, Ryan Flinn, Luc Robitaille and Jeremy Roenick.

--Not yet: Pavol Demitra did not accompany the Kings on their flight to Minnesota on Monday morning because an examination revealed that blood behind his right eye has not dissipated.

Demitra was injured Feb. 22, while representing Slovakia in the Olympics, when he was struck in the face by a shot. The Kings hoped Demitra would be able to return to the lineup tonight, but he will be examined again Thursday and might be able to return for Saturday's game at St. Louis.

Rich Hammond, [phone]

rich.hammond(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

box

Box:

KINGS at MINNESOTA

- Rich Hammond