The Chicago Blackhawks will be without Marcus Kruger for “approximately four months” after the center underwent successful surgery to repair a dislocated left wrist, the team announced Friday.
Kruger left the team’s 4-0 win over the Oilers on Thursday night after suffering the injury. He was seen holding his left wrist on the bench and did not return to action. The 25-year-old has just one assist in 33 games this season, although he’s played his usual role as a key penalty killer and defensive stopper on the fourth line.
In order to replace Kruger on the roster, the Hawks recalled forward Phillip Danault from the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL. Danault, 22, has one goal and one assist in six games for the IceHogs this season after returning from arthroscopic surgery on his left hip that sidelined him for three months.
Danault, who was drafted 26th overall in the 2011 NHL Draft, was ranked No. 9 in SCH’s 2015 Top 25 Under 25 series. He’s often considered the heir apparent to Kruger as a steady, defensive-minded center. Now we’ll get to see first-hand whether Danault is ready to take on that role.