Danny Kristo

Daniel Kristo (born June 18, 1990) is an American professional ice hockey forward for the Coventry Blaze in the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL). He was selected in the second round, 56th overall, by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2008 NHL entry draft.

Playing career Kristo was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens, 56th overall in the 2008 NHL entry draft. He played college hockey with the University of North Dakota in the NCAA Men's Division I WCHA conference. In his senior year, Kristo's outstanding play was rewarded with a selection to the 2012–13 All-WCHA First Team.

On July 2, 2013, Kristo was traded, by the Canadiens, to the New York Rangers for right winger Christian Thomas. On August 19, 2014, the Rangers announced that they had re-signed Kristo, who was a restricted free agent, to a one-year $826,875 contract.

On July 2, 2015, Kristo left the Rangers as a free agent, signing a one-year, two-way contract with the St. Louis Blues. In the 2015–16 season, Kristo was assigned to play with the Blues AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves. In playing the entirety of the year with the Wolves, Kristo appeared in 71 games in compiling 25 goals and 48 points. On August 2, 2016, Kristo re-signed with the St. Louis Blues on a one-year, two-way contract.

In the 2016–17 season, his second year with the Wolves, Kristo had 2 assists in 8 games before he was dealt by the Blues to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for defenseman Reid McNeill on November 19, 2016. Remaining in the AHL with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Kristo added 6 goals and 11 points in 32 games before on February 23, 2017, he was dealt again by the Penguins to the Carolina Hurricanes along with a second round draft pick in exchange for Ron Hainsey. He played out the season with the Hurricanes AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, contributing with 10 points in 14 games.

With dwindling NHL prospects going forward, Kristo opted to sign his first contract abroad in agreeing to a one-year deal with Latvian based Dinamo Riga of the KHL on June 30, 2017.

After a two-year stint in the Swiss National League with SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers, Kristo left as a free agent to return to the KHL, agreeing to a one-year deal with Chinese club, HC Kunlun Red Star, on July 29, 2020. Kristo collected 4 goals in 14 contests with Kunlun before leaving to KHL to join German club, Augsburger Panther of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) on January 8, 2021.

As a free agent, following completing the season with the Augsburger Panther, Kristo moved to the Czech Republic in agreeing to a one-year contract with Rytíři Kladno of the ELH, on July 14, 2021.

In October 2022, following a spell in Slovakia with HK Dukla Michalovce, Kristo moved to the UK to sign for Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) side Sheffield Steelers.

In July 2023, Kristo moved to fellow Elite League club Coventry Blaze.

Personal life Kristo's second cousin Ben Blood was drafted by the Ottawa Senators in the 2007 NHL entry draft. He currently plays for Tappara in the Liiga.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2006–07 U.S. NTDP U17 USDP 59 12 16 28 36 — — — — — 2006–07 U.S. NTDP U18 NAHL 39 8 10 18 34 6 0 1 1 2 2007–08 U.S. NTDP U17 USDP 2 1 1 2 2 — — — — — 2007–08 U.S. NTDP U18 NAHL 14 4 4 8 6 — — — — — 2007–08 U.S. NTDP U18 USDP 55 21 17 38 49 — — — — — 2008–09 Omaha Lancers USHL 50 22 36 58 18 3 3 0 3 2 2009–10 University of North Dakota WCHA 41 15 21 36 8 — — — — — 2010–11 University of North Dakota WCHA 34 8 20 28 18 — — — — — 2011–12 University of North Dakota WCHA 42 19 26 45 33 — — — — — 2012–13 University of North Dakota WCHA 40 26 26 52 24 — — — — — 2012–13 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 9 0 3 3 2 — — — — — 2013–14 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL 65 25 18 43 18 — — — — — 2014–15 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL 72 22 24 46 35 15 3 3 6 2 2015–16 Chicago Wolves AHL 71 25 23 48 29 — — — — — 2016–17 Chicago Wolves AHL 8 0 2 2 2 — — — — — 2016–17 Wilkes–Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 32 6 5 11 10 — — — — — 2016–17 Charlotte Checkers AHL 14 4 6 10 4 5 0 1 1 0 2017–18 Dinamo Rīga KHL 42 8 13 21 6 — — — — — 2018–19 Brynäs IF SHL 10 0 4 4 6 — — — — — 2018–19 SC Rapperswil–Jona Lakers NL 37 9 15 24 6 — — — — — 2019–20 SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers NL 39 11 11 22 0 — — — — — 2020–21 Kunlun Red Star KHL 14 4 0 4 4 — — — — — 2020–21 Augsburger Panther DEL 31 8 12 20 10 — — — — — 2021–22 Rytíři Kladno Czech 38 3 8 11 12 — — — — — 2021–22 Västerås IK Swe-1 15 4 5 9 2 7 2 1 3 4 2022–23 HK Dukla Michalovce Slovak 6 1 1 2 0 — — — — — 2022–23 Sheffield Steelers EIHL 47 12 18 30 12 4 2 3 5 2 AHL totals 271 82 81 163 100 20 3 4 7 2

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2008 United States WJC18 7 3 3 6 2 2009 United States WJC 5th 6 1 0 1 0 2010 United States WJC 7 5 3 8 0 2013 United States WC 10 1 2 3 2 Junior totals 20 9 6 15 2 Senior totals 10 1 2 3 2

Awards and achievements Award Year College All-WCHA Rookie Team 2009–10 All-WCHA First Team 2012–13 AHCA West First-Team All-American 2012–13