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Predators extend Klein -- five years, $14.5 million

Phoenix Coyotes v Nashville Predators - Game Three

NASHVILLE, TN - MAY 02: Antoine Vermette #50 of the Phoenix Coyotes tries to take the puck from Kevin Klein #8 of the Nashville Predators in Game Three of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bridgestone Arena on May 2, 2012 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)

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Kevin Klein’s big performance in the playoffs last season has paid off nicely for him.

The Predators announced they reached a five-year extension with the 27 year-old defenseman good for $14.5 million. That’s good for a cap hit of $2.9 million a year. Klein had been making $1.35 million a year against the cap on his last deal.

While he was a mostly unknown guy before the postseason, Klein’s performance in Nashville’s series win over Detroit in the playoffs put him on the map as he scored a goal in both Game 3 and Game 4, the latter a game-winner.

Now he’ll be counted on for bigger minutes and being one of the core guys on what’s a relatively young group of defensemen. With Shea Weber and Hal Gill already there, he’s got plenty of veteran help to lean on.