Versteeg and Nordstrom are the latest members of the defending Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks to depart since their title-clinching victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning in June.
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The Blackhawks were able to re-sign Kruger, who was a restricted free agent, after they cleared cap space by trading Kris Versteeg to the Carolina Hurricanes earlier Friday. He enjoyed two fruitful stints with the Blackhawks, as well as runs with the Philadelphia Flyers, Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers in between.
He was a fan favorite on a modern-day dynasty, and his personality and leadership will make the already solid Hurricanes locker room a much more fun and comfortable one to be in. Kruger isn’t a potent offensive contributor, as he only registered 17 points (7 goals, ten assists) in 81 games with Chicago last season.
This is going to be an interesting situation to watch over the course of training camp.
The Carolina Hurricanes have acquired veteran forward Kris Versteeg in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Nordstrom recorded 16 points with Rockford past year before making the Blackhawks’ playoff roster.
Kruger, 25, has established himself as one of the league’s top checking-line centers and penalty killers. The Hurricanes now have 10 picks in the first three rounds of the next two drafts – a 1st, 2nd and two 3rds next year; a 1st, 2nd and three 3rds the following year. Last season, the team was 27th out of 30 in goals per game, lighting the lamp a mere 183 times. He appeared in 12 games in the postseason, scoring a goal and an assist, in helping the ‘Hawks win the Stanley Cup.
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The 29-year old Versteeg was drafted 134th overall in the fifth round of the 2004 draft by the Bruins. He also played in three playoff games for Chicago last season, but was held off of the scoresheet.
