In case it wasn’t already clear, the Chicago Blackhawks did indeed move Kris Versteeg to make room for Marcus Kruger’s newest contract.
The team hasn’t revealed the dollar terms of the deal, but the Blackhawks confirmed that Kruger was signed to a one-year contract on Friday.
General Fanager estimates Chicago’s cap space at about $2.43 million, yet GM Stan Bowman would likely prefer to fill one more roster spot with at least a minimum wage player, so it’s not guaranteed that Kruger ate up every cent of that remaining money.
The 25-year-old plays mostly a defensive/depth role with Chicago, although it’s possible that the team might want more from Kruger considering this tumultuous off-season.
One assumes Kruger might drive a harder bargain for his next contract:
Kruger wanted a long-term deal, but had to settle for one year.
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) September 11, 2015
Update: It’s worth $1.5 million, according to TSN’s Bob McKenzie.
Marcus Kruger's one-year deal with CHI has an AAV of $1.5M.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) September 11, 2015