March 09--When Marcus Kruger re-signed with the Blackhawks during the offseason, Kruger did the club a major favor in taking a team- and salary-cap friendly contract.
Now the Hawks are making sure Kruger gets paid.
The Hawks and Kruger agreed to a three-year extension Wednesday through the 2018-19 season that will pay Kruger $9.25 million ($3.083 million per season), a league source confirmed.
That's more security and a significant raise from the one-year, $1.5 million deal Kruger signed just before the season.
Kruger, 25, has been out since Dec. 17 with a dislocated wrist but is a valued penalty killer and bottom-line defensive forward who is also capable of scoring, though he had not scored in 33 games this season.
Kruger is expected back for the playoffs though he could return for a few regular-season games.
With extensions for Brent Seabrook and center Artem Anisimov and now Kruger kicking in next season, it is becoming more imperative for the Hawks to shed the salary-cap hit of Bryan Bickell ($4 million per season) over the summer to create cap space.
Kruger was a key member of the 2013 and 2015 Stanley Cup-winning teams and has 28 goals and 57 assists in his Hawks career.
Shaw back at center: With Marian Hossa expected back in Wednesday's lineup, coach Joel Quenneville shuffled his lines at Tuesday's practice. Andrew Shaw dropped down from the right wing on the top line to center on the fourth line.
Quenneville said the move provides balance on the Hawks' lines.
"(Any) line can play against anybody in any segment of the rink," Quenneville said.
Keith takes breather: The only Hawk not to participate Tuesday was defenseman Duncan Keith, but Keith's absence was only for rest, Quenneville said. Keith will play Wednesday.
