Just two days after he was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights, the team has moved veteran forward Marcus Kruger to a new club. Vegas has traded Kruger to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for a fifth round pick in next years NHL Entry Draft. There was no salary retention in the deal.
#Canes acquire Marcus Kruger from Vegas for 2018 fifth-round pick. Golden Knights got center from #Blackhawks for future considerations.
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) July 4, 2017
Kruger’s Modified NTC kicked in on July 1st. Had the #Hurricanes been able to acquire him prior to June 30th, they could have nullified it. https://t.co/AEezFws2yH
— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) July 4, 2017
Carolina Hurricanes Acquire Marcus Kruger
Kruger is a bit a burden for Carolina to take on though. The 27-year old could be a solid bottom six forward. He has played 192 games in the last three seasons total, but has only managed 38 points. 17 of these points came last season, in a total of 70 games. His inconsistency does not make him worthy of a $3 million contract, which is part of the reason Chicago was so eager to dish him to Vegas. He could be a good bottom line center in Carolina, and his experience in the league will help the young players that will join the team soon. He is also an excellent penalty killer.
The analytics show that Kruger is a useful bottom six forward. With a Relative Corsi-For percentage of 0.35, which was ninth on the Blackhawks roster, shows that he is an effective hockey player. Despite the point production not matching, he can bring reliable play to the bottom six. And with the salary cap not being any sort of issue for the Carolina Hurricanes, his $3 million cap hit is the least of their worries. It should be noted that the Blackhawks have already paid Kruger $2 million in a signing bonus this year, so the Hurricanes are on the hook for $1 million in real dollars but the full $3 million cap hit.
Main Photo: CHICAGO, IL – APRIL 15: Chicago Blackhawks center Marcus Kruger (16) battles with Nashville Predators center Calle Jarnkrok (19) over a loose puck in the second period during game 2 of the first round of the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Nashville Predators on April 15, 2017, at the United Center in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
