Coyotes acquire Kruger for Martinook, swap picks in trade with Hurricanes
May 3, 2018, 1:11 PM | Updated: 1:20 pm
Detroit Red Wings goaltender Petr Mrazek (34) dives for the puck in front of a charging Carolina Hurricanes' Marcus Kruger (16) and Detroit Red Wings' Mike Green (25) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Feb. 2, 2018, in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
(AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
The Arizona Coyotes acquired center Marcus Kruger and a third-round 2018 NHL Draft pick from the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday for forward Jordan Martinook and a 2018 fourth-round pick.
“We are very pleased to add Marcus to the Coyotes,” said Chayka. “Marcus is a solid, two-way center who is very responsible defensively and has good speed and skill. He’s an excellent penalty-killer and will provide us with good depth at the center ice position.”
Kruger has one year left on a three-year, $9.25 million contract.
Carolina will retain 10 percent of Marcus Kruger's salary.
— Craig Morgan (@craigsmorgan) May 3, 2018
Kruger, 27, appeared in 48 games for the Hurricanes last season, scoring one goal and recording five assists in 10:50 time on the ice. He was demoted to the American Hockey League’s Charlotte Checkers in February, and he scored four goals with four assists in 19 appearances there.
The Stockholm, Sweden native has 446 games of NHL experience. He spent 2010-2017 with the Chicago Blackhawks, winning championships in 2013 and 2015, and has tallied 111 career points since entering the NHL.
In Chicago, he played with current Coyotes Niklas Hjalmarsson and Richard Panik.
The Blackhawks traded Kruger to the Vegas Golden Knights last July before he was flipped two days later for a fifth-round pick.
Martinook recorded 26-35-65 in 247 career games with the Coyotes.
