Paul Kruse

Paul Johannes Kruse (born February 25, 1971, in Merritt, British Columbia, Canada) is a former National Hockey League left wing. He was drafted in the fourth round, 83rd overall, by the Calgary Flames in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft.

After playing three seasons in the Western Hockey League with the Moose Jaw Warriors and Kamloops Blazers, Kruse joined the International Hockey League's Salt Lake Golden Eagles. After splitting three seasons between the Golden Eagles and the Flames, he joined the Flames full-time in the 1993–94 season.

During the 1996–97 season, Kruse was acquired by the New York Islanders. At the trade deadline of the 1997–98 season, he was traded, along with Jason Holland, to the Buffalo Sabres for Jason Dawe. Kruse was a member of the Buffalo Sabres team which went to the Stanley Cup Finals in the 1998–99 season, appearing in ten playoff games during the run.

Kruse's last NHL appearance came when he dressed for one game for the 2000–01 San Jose Sharks. He went to Europe after the season, playing two years in the United Kingdom's British Ice Hockey Superleague for the Sheffield Steelers and the Belfast Giants and one more year playing in Austria playing for EHC Black Wings Linz before retiring.