2008 MVP Jason Krog Among Nine Assigned to Chicago
September 26, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Chicago Wolves News Release
The Atlanta Thrashers have assigned center JASON KROG, the American Hockey League's most valuable player in 2008, to the Chicago Wolves. In addition, forwards Joey Crabb, Spencer Machacek and Tim Stapleton, defensemen Arturs Kulda, Grant Lewis, Paul Postma and Mike Vernace, and goaltender Drew MacIntyre have been assigned to the Wolves.
KROG last saw action with the Wolves in 2008 when he led the club to the Calder Cup championship and became the first player in AHL history to capture both regular season and postseason MVP honors. The 33-year-old forward posted a career-best season that year, and was the third player in the 74-year history of the AHL, and the first since 1985, to lead the league in goals (39), assists (73) and points (112) - all career-highs and franchise records for a center - after skating in all 80 regular-season games. The Fernie, B.C., native spent last season with the AHL's Manitoba Moose, where he led that club and ranked third in the league with 86 points (30G, 56A) in 74 matchups, and led the Moose to a berth in the Calder Cup Finals. He also appeared in four National Hockey League tilts with the Vancouver Canucks, potting one goal.
STAPLETON, who notched two points (G, A) in four preseason game with Atlanta, ranked first on the Toronto Marlies and tied for seventh in the AHL with 79 points in 70 outings last season. He paced the Marlies with 28 goals and 51 assists, and appeared in four NHL outings with the Toronto Maple Leafs, picking up his first career NHL goal on Feb. 28 at Ottawa. Overall, the La Grange, Ill., native has appeared in 79 career AHL outings with the Portland Pirates (2005-06) and Toronto Marlies (2008-09), collecting 28 goals, 56 assists and 84 points.
CRABB returns for his fourth campaign with Chicago after ranking fifth on the Wolves with a professional career-high 15 goals and collected 29 points in 42 tilts last season. The 26-year-old forward also made his NHL debut in 29 games with Atlanta last year and recorded nine points (4G, 5A) - which includes his first NHL marker on Dec. 10 vs. the New York Rangers. Overall, the Anchorage, Alaska, native has tallied 31 goals, 55 assists, 86 points and 165 penalty minutes in 177 career AHL games with Chicago, spanning three seasons (2006 to 2009).
MACHACEK made his professional debut with the Wolves last season and ranked second on the team and shared 14th among league first-year pros with 48 points in a team-high 77 games. He also held second on the Wolves and shared seventh among AHL rookies with 23 goals, and made his NHL debut in two outings with the Thrashers.
MacINTYRE led the AHL with a career-high 34 victories and ranked fifth in the league with a 2.30 goals-against average in 55 outings with the Milwaukee Admirals last season. The 26-year-old netminder posted a 34-15-4 record and .921 save percentage for the Admirals in his fifth pro campaign. Overall, he has accrued a 98-57-8 record with a 2.36 goals-against average, .918 save percentage and 10 shutouts in 179 career AHL outings with Grand Rapids (2004-06), Manitoba (2006-08) and Milwaukee (2008-09), and appeared in two career NHL matchups with the Vancouver Canucks (2007-08), recording an 0-1-0 record and a 2.95 goals-against average.
Blueliners KULDA and LEWIS both spent time with the Wolves last season, notching 15 points (G, 14A) and 59 penalty minutes in 57 contests, and 22 assists and 72 penalty minutes in 54 games, respectively. VERNACE made his NHL debut in 12 outings with the Colorado Avalanche last year, recording eight penalty minutes, and notched 14 assists, 17 points and 52 penalty minutes in 65 matchups with the Lake Erie Monsters. POSTMA will make his pro debut this season after ranking first among Western Hockey League defensemen with a career-high 23 goals, 61 assists and 84 points in 70 outings with the Calgary Hitmen last year.
For more information, or tickets to the team's home opener against the Milwaukee Admirals on Sat., Oct. 3, at 7 p.m., call 1-800-THE-WOLVES or visit chicagowolves.com.
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