Hawks forward leaves for Europe

Some unrestricted free agents take the offseason to reconsider their options and that’s exactly what forward Marcus Kruger did before leaving for Switzerland. 

The veteran forward, who won two Stanley Cup championships with the Chicago Blackhawks, is heading overseas after signing a two-year contract with the ZSC Lions of the National League in Switzerland, as per team insider Ben Pope. 

The 29-year-old became a UFA on July 1st, but we don’t know if the lack of interest for his services in the NHL made him look elsewhere to continue his hockey career. 

Kruger, who was selected by Chicago back in 2009, played eight seasons for the Blackhawks before he was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights in July 2017 for future considerations then moved to the Carolina Hurricanes just two days later. Kruger battled injuries and only took part in 48 games with the Canes during the 2017-18 season. He was then traded to the Arizona Coyotes in May 2018 and returned for a second stint with the Blackhawks as part of another trade. He was acquire along with forward prospect MacKenzie Entwistle , forward Jordan Maletta , defenseman Andrew Campbell and a 2019-fifth round pick, in July 2018 in exchange for Marian Hossa ’s contract, winger Vinnie Hinostroza , defenseman Jordan Oesterle and a 2019-third round pick.

He had 117 points in 472 regular-season games with Chicago and was a vital piece of the Blackhawks’ 2013 and 2015 Stanley Cup title runs and will surely remember these good old days in the NHL.