Kruger excels in puck possession (52.1 career Corsi For percentage), blocks plenty of shots (0.66 per game) and has committed a mere 12 giveaways over eight years of service time. He made 48 appearances with the Hurricanes in 2017-18, collecting one goal and five assists against a minus-6 rating. It wasn't the finest work from Kruger -- who's entrenched as a penalty-killing specialist -- but in fairness, he was held back by an illness and a lower-body injury before Carolina packaged him to Arizona in a trade for Jordan Martinook last May. He's headed back to the Windy City after yet another swap, but you're still likely to find him on the waiver wire in just about every format.
Kruger once again had a lackluster season in terms of offensive production in 2016-17, notching 17 points (five goals, 12 assists) in 70 games. To be fair, the Swedish forward isn't known for his offensive contributions; he’s a fantastic penalty killer lauded for his ability to center lines that shut down the opponent's top offensive weapons. The 27-year-old pivot will assume a similar role with his new club, the Hurricanes, in 2017-18, but he won't be worth rostering in most fantasy settings due to his extremely limited offensive upside.
2015-16 was a season to forget for Kruger, as the 26-year-old center was limited to just 41 games due to a wrist injury he sustained on Dec. 17 in a matchup with the Oilers. The Swedish forward only managed to tally four assists over that span, making most of his impact on special teams as a penalty-killing specialist. Kruger will once again slot into a bottom-six role with the Blackhawks this season, and won't be worth owning in the majority of fantasy leagues due to his limited offensive upside.
Kruger failed to lockdown the job of second-line pivot last season and he finished with eight goals and 20 assists. He was a beast in the faceoff circle, though, where he increased his winning percentage from 46.3 percent to 56.7 percent. He will toil in the Hawks' bottom six and deliver more value on the ice than in the fantasy arena.
Kruger, who was mainly the Hawks' fourth-line center last season, "could" move up to the second line for this season. However, he could also remain on the fourth line. Nothing is guaranteed besides the opportunity and it's a stretch to think the Hawks will slide him between Marian Hossa and Patrick Sharp. Kruger has really carved out a niche on the penalty kill and he'll likely reprise that role in 2013-14. Unfortunately, that limits his potential output and his fantasy value, too.
Kruger's first full season was pretty impressive -- nine goals and 17 assists in 71 games -- for a 21-year-old rookie center from overseas with just seven previous NHL games under his belt. This elite playmaker has a high hockey IQ and great two-way skills, and he should take another step in his progress this year.
The 21-year-old Kruger had a cup of coffee with the Blackhawks, having skated in seven games during the 2010-11 regular season after coming over from the Swedish Elite League. He led the Djurgardens team in scoring, but did not record a point in the U.S. for his first tour of the NHL. He arrived in the states after Dave Bolland went down with an injury, and could see time as a center on one of the lower lines this season. Kruger started the 2011-12 season at Rockford of the AHL.
The 20-year-old Kruger is expected to start the 2010-11 season in the minors. He was ranked second on Djurgardens IF of the Swedish Elite League with 31 points (11 goals, 20 assists) in 38 regular-season games in 2009-10 before adding 10 points (3 goals, 7 assists) in 16 playoff games.
Kruger, 20, ranked second on Djurgardens IF of the Swedish Elite League with 31 points (11 goals, 20 assists) in 38 regular-season games in 2009-10 before adding 10 points (3 goals, 7 assists) in 16 playoff tilts. He was fifth round selection in the 2009 National Hockey League Entry Draft. Kruger finished as a finalist for the league’s rookie of the year award.
