The Chicago Blackhawks still have center Markus Kruger to sign and little cap room to do so, but took a step to free up cap space for the restricted free agent, as wingers Kris Versteeg and Joakim Nordstrom were traded to the Carolina Hurricanes for a pair of minor league prospects.
The deal moves out Versteeg's $2.2 Million salary and should enable GM Stan Bowman to get Kruger's name on the dotted line.
UPDATE: The Hawks have signed Kruger to a one-year deal.
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