Blackhawks re-sign Kruger, trade Versteeg, Nordstrom to Hurricanes
The Chicago Blackhawks re-signed Marcus Kruger to a one-year contract after sending fellow forwards Kris Versteeg and Joakim Nordstrom to the Carolina Hurricanes as part of a four-player trade on Friday.
The team announced the deal but did not divulge the financial terms for Kruger, who was the Blackhawks' lone unsigned restricted free agent.
The 25-year-old Swede was searching for a long-term contract extension in the summer if he were to remain with the team. His agent, J.P. Barry, told the Chicago Tribune in an email in July that "We will be patient," but also noted that Kruger "will have no choice later in August but to do a shorter deal."
Kruger's patience was rewarded on Friday, minutes after the Blackhawks completed a trade with the Hurricanes.
Versteeg, who is a two-time Stanley Cup champion, carried a $2.2 million cap hit that expired after the upcoming 2015-16 season. Nordstrom was on the books for $605,000 to give Chicago approximately $2.4 million in cap space prior to Kruger's deal, according to generalfanager.com.
Kruger collected seven goals and 10 assists while playing in 81 regular-season games for the Blackhawks last season. He had two of each in 23 postseason contests as Chicago went on to win its third Stanley Cup title in six years.
Chicago received minor-league defensemen Dennis Robertson and Jake Massie and a fifth-round pick in the 2017 draft on Friday for Versteeg, Nordstrom and a third-round selection in the same draft.
(h/t Chicago Blackhawks)
Johnny Oduya & Markus Kruger meet fans @Friends_Arena in Stockholm. #StanleyCup @NHLBlackhawks @NHL @HockeyHallFame pic.twitter.com/dwP9VxpS0L
— Philip Pritchard (@keeperofthecup) August 19, 2015
CORRECTION Hawks cap space is estimated $2.4M, with 12 F, 6 D, 2 G. Kruger still unsigned. http://t.co/UKCN2ifO5U #WeBlewIt
— General Fanager (@generalfanager) September 11, 2015
