Promise Kept: Kruger Re-upped

First, I forgot that The Hawks were playing on Sunday.  Not only did I not catch the game but I didn't even learn the result until Tuesday.  Yup, keeping on top of things here.

Second, this news from yesterday afternoon:
                                   

The Chicago Blackhawks announced today they have agreed to terms with forward Marcus Kruger on a three-year contract extension, which runs through the end of the 2018-19 National Hockey League season.

Kruger, 25, registered one assist in 33 games with Chicago this season, prior to being placed on Injured Reserve on Dec. 28. The two-time Stanley Cup champion recorded 17 points (7G, 10A) in 81 games with the Blackhawks last season en route to the 2015 Stanley Cup championship. He added four points (2G, 2A) over 23 postseason games, including a triple-overtime tally in Game 2 of the Western Conference Final against the Anaheim Ducks. Kruger led team forwards with 180:01 of shorthanded time on ice in the regular season and ranked second with a 53.3 faceoff win percentage.

The money is slightly north of $3 Mil per which, on the surface, is a lot to pay for a fella with one assist to his credit this season, but Kruger's value cannot be measured in goals and assists, even if I wish and believe he is capable of more of that sort of thing.  Rather, it's his defensive skill and his ability to inherit a bad situation and hand off a good situation to the next line to jump over the boards.  Kruger gets the worst zone starts of any Hawks forward and faces some of the toughest opponents of anyone in the league, yet is consistently able to press the play in the other direction.  He isn't a pure shut-down guy so much as a momentum-shifter.  Kruger has become excellent on faceoffs and is the go-to penalty killer for The Hawks.

Also, GM Stan Bowman was able to sign Kruger last summer for far less than what he's worth, presumably with the promise that The Hawks would make it worth his while on his next contract.

So, Kruger helped The Hawks out of a cap crunch last year but contributes to a similar situation this season.  $3 Mil does seem like a lot, but a deal is a deal and The Hawks do get a load of value from him.  Still, looking ahead to The Hawks' projected roster for 2016-2017, there will be a lot of holes to fill and not a lot of dosh with which to fill them. The only way I see The Hawks retaining Andrew Shaw, to mention just one challenge Bowman will face, is to somehow wiggle out of Bryan Bickell's $3 Mil cap hit.  Maybe Fleischmann and or Weise re-sign at an affordable rate just to remain in the fold, as Desjardins did.  Failing that, we'll be treated to the likes of Kero, Hartman et al patrolling the wings next season.  Ick.

                                       I'm looking forward to 16 and 65 re-uniting.