RELATED: [2017-18 NHL Trade Tracker]
Kruger, 27, was traded to Vegas by Chicago for future considerations Sunday.
"We were determined to bring in experienced players with winning pedigrees and Marcus is another addition who fits that mold," Hurricanes general manager Ron Francis said. "He's a solid two-way center who has achieved success both in the NHL and internationally."
Kruger won the Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks in 2013 and 2015. He's the third member of the 2015 championship team to join the Hurricanes since the end of last season, along with goaltender Scott Darling, who was acquired in a trade from the Blackhawks on April 28, and defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk, who was selected by the Golden Knights in the NHL Expansion Draft on June 21 and then traded to the Hurricanes the next day.
He's also the fifth new member of the Hurricanes to have won the Cup. In addition to the three former Blackhawks, the Hurricanes agreed to terms on a two-year contract with forward Justin Williams, a three-time Cup winner (Hurricanes, 2006; Los Angeles Kings, 2012, 2014), on July 1. The Hurricanes also hired goaltending coach Mike Bales, who held the same position for the Pittsburgh Penguins' championship teams the past two seasons.
Kruger had 17 points (five goals, 12 assists) in 70 games for the Blackhawks last season and one assist in four Stanley Cup Playoff games. His best offensive season in the NHL was 2013-14, when he had 28 points (eight goals, 20 assists).
Kruger has 105 points (33 goals, 72 assists) in 398 NHL games, all with Chicago, and has 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) in 87 Stanley Cup Playoff games. He was selected by the Blackhawks in the fifth-round (No. 149) in the 2009 draft.
