EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) The Los Angeles Kings bought out the final year of defenseman Matt Greene's contract Friday, cutting ties with another portion of their Stanley Cup championship core.

Greene has been with the Kings since 2008, and he provided steady stay-at-home defense during their title runs in 2012 and 2014, playing in 20 playoff games in each postseason. He became a fan favorite in Los Angeles for his physical play and willingness to absorb punishment in the Kings' grinding defensive game plan.

But the 34-year-old Greene has played in only 29 games over the past two seasons due to serious injuries, and he has played in more than half of the Kings' games in just one regular season since 2012.