Marcus Kruger

Marcus Kruger
Born	27 May 1990 (1990-05-27) Stockholm, Sweden
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight	172 lb (78 kg; 12 st 4 lb)
Position	Centre
Shoots	Left
NHL team Former teams	Chicago Blackhawks Djurgårdens IF
National team	Sweden
NHL Draft	149th overall, 2009 Chicago Blackhawks
Playing career	2009–present

Marcus Krüger (born on May 27, 1990 in Stockholm, Sweden) is a Swedish professional ice hockey player who is currently a centre for the Chicago Blackhawks in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Marcus previously played for Stockholm-based Djurgårdens IF Hockey. He was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 5th round, 149th overall, in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing Career

Sweden Playing Career

Marcus was announced as the first of four nominees for the 2009–10 Elitserien Rookie of the Year on October 18, 2009 after starting the season with five goals and 11 assists in just 13 games.

NHL Playing Career

Marcus signed a three-year contract with the Chicago Blackhawks in June of 2010, but opted to stay with Djurgården during the first year of the contract. He was later recalled from Djurgården to Chicago on March 23, 2011.

His first full season with the Blackhawks was in 2011–12, when he played in 71 games with the club, scoring nine goals and adding 17 assists

On April 9, 2013 in Game 5 of the Western Conference Quarter-finals, Marcus scored his first career Stanley Cup playoff goal, which happened to be the game winner against Minnesota Wild goaltender Josh Harding.

The Blackhawks eventually won the 2013 Stanley Cup with Marcus contributing three goals during the team's run. After his playoff success with the team, he signed a two year extension with the Blackhawks on July 12, 2013.

Marcus scored eight goals along with 20 assists in 81 games for Chicago during the 2013–14 NHL season. On May 19, 2015, he scored the game winning triple overtime away goal to tie the Western Conference finals 1-1 against the Anaheim Ducks.

On September 11, 2015, Marcus signed a one-year, 1.5 million dollar contract to stay with the Blackhawks for the 2015-2016 season.

On December 17, 2015, he dislocated his wrist in a game against the Edmonton Oilers. He is projected to miss at-least four months while recovering from the injury.

On February 27, 2016, the Blackhawks announced that Marcus would be switching his number to 22 in order for his new teammate acquired from the Winnipeg Jets, Andrew Ladd to keep his traditional number 16.

On March 9, 2016, the Blackhawks signed him to a three-year, $9.25 million contract extension that runs through the 2018-19 season.

Career Statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2007–08	Djurgårdens IF	J20		22	3	13	16	16		7	5	3	8	0
2008–09	Djurgårdens IF	SEL		15	2	2	4	2		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	Djurgårdens IF	J20		34	9	30	39	24		6	1	5	6	2
2009–10	Djurgårdens IF	SEL		38	11	20	31	14		16	3	7	10	6
2010–11	Djurgårdens IF	SEL		52	6	29	35	52		3	0	1	1	0
2010–11	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		7	0	0	0	4		5	0	1	1	0
2011–12	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		71	9	17	26	22		6	0	0	0	0
2012–13	Rockford IceHogs	AHL		34	8	14	22	24		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		47	4	9	13	24		23	3	2	5	2
2013–14	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		81	8	20	28	36		19	1	3	4	6
2014–15	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		81	7	10	17	32		23	2	2	4	4
NHL totals				287	28	56	84	118		76	6	8	14	12
SEL totals				105	19	51	70	68		19	3	8	11	6

International

Year	Team	Event		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2010	Sweden	WJC		6	0	6	6	2
2011	Sweden	WC		9	2	1	3	10
2012	Sweden	WC		8	3	2	5	6
2014	Sweden	Oly		6	0	0	0	4
Junior totals				6	0	6	6	2
Senior totals				23	5	3	8	20

International Statistics

Year	Team	Event		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2010	Sweden	WJC		6	0	6	6	2
2011	Sweden	WC		9	2	1	3	10
2012	Sweden	WC		8	3	2	5	6
2014	Sweden	Oly		6	0	0	0	4
Junior totals				6	0	6	6	2
Senior totals				23	5	3	8	20

International Play

Medal record
Competitor for Sweden
Men's ice hockey
World Junior Championships
Bronze	2010 Canada	Ice hockey

Marcus has represented Sweden three times in international play.

At the junior level, he helped his country capture a bronze medal at the 2010 World Junior Championships. After graduating to the senior level, Marcus has played for Sweden twice, in 2011 (finishing with a silver medal) and 2012. He also represented Sweden in the 2014 Winter Olympics.

After several injuries to the team's centremen, Marcus played on Sweden's first line in the tournament final against Canada in which Sweden lost, 3–0.