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Kruger, Blackhawks continue to work towards contract

Tuukka Rask, Marcus Kruger

Marcus Kruger #16 of the Chicago Blackhawks scores a goal against Tuukka Rask #40 of the Boston Bruins in Game Four of the 2013 NHL Stanley Cup Final at TD Garden on June 19, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts. (June 18, 2013 - Source: HH/Getty Images North America)

The Chicago Blackhawks only have about $2.5 million left in cap space, but fortunately they are down to one significant restricted free agent: Marcus Kruger.

The Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup in part thanks to their depth and Kruger played a meaningful part in that as the team’s fourth-line center. He was also one of the team’s main penalty killers, which is an area of their game that was a tremendous asset during the postseason.

The 23-year-old is coming off of his entry-level contract and agent J.P. Barry told CSN Chicago that both sides “have been negotiating daily in search of a two year bridge deal.”

Kruger is thrilled to be with the Blackhawks and hopes he’s able to continue to play for them.

“We’ll see if they want me to be here but I’m so glad I got the chance to play here with these guys and this organization,” Kruger said.

“Being a part of a winning team and everything like that, how that feeling was, it’ll help me in this career. You always want to win so badly. Now when you’ve done it, you just want to do it again. But now you know you can achieve it.”

He had four goals and 13 points in 47 games last season, which gives him 39 points in 125 career contests.