{{short description|American professional ice hockey forward (born 1990)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2016}} {{Infobox ice hockey player | image = Danny Kristo (cropped).jpg | image_size = 230 px | caption = Kristo with the Chicago Wolves | prospect_league = | prospect_team = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1990|6|18}} | birth_place = Eden Prairie, Minnesota, U.S. | height_ft = 5 | height_in = 11 | weight_lb = 185 | position = Right wing | shoots = Right | team = Coventry Blaze | league = EIHL | former_teams = Dinamo Riga<br>Brynäs IF<br>SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers<br>Kunlun Red Star<br>Augsburger Panther<br>Rytíři Kladno<br>HK Dukla Michalovce<br>Sheffield Steelers | ntl_team = USA | draft = 56th overall | draft_year = 2008 | draft_team = Montreal Canadiens | career_start = 2013 | career_end = }}

'''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.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.wcha.com/men/pres1213/201303/mar14wcm.php | publisher = Western Collegiate Hockey Association | title = Men's WCHA awards announced | date = 2013-03-14 | access-date = 2013-03-14}}</ref>

On July 2, 2013, Kristo was traded, by the Canadiens, to the New York Rangers for right winger Christian Thomas.<ref>{{Cite web| url = http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=676224 | title = Rangers trade Thomas to Canadiens for Kristo | publisher = National Hockey League | date = 2013-07-02 | access-date = 2013-07-02}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://twitter.com/StLouisBlues/status/616619082339721216 | title = Blues agree terms with Danny Kristo | publisher = Twitter | author = St. Louis Blues | date = 2015-07-02 | access-date = 2015-07-02| author-link = St. Louis Blues }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/blues-penguins-swap-minor-league-players/ | title = Blues, Penguins swap minor leaguers | work = CBS Sports | date = 2016-11-19 | access-date = 2016-11-19}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Morton|first1=Kyle|title=Trade: Hurricanes Send Hainsey to Penguins for Kristo, 2nd|url=http://www.canescountry.com/2017/2/23/14712512/trade-carolina-hurricanes-send-ron-hainsey-to-pittsburgh-penguins-for-danny-kristo-2nd|website=Canes Country|access-date=23 February 2017|date=23 February 2017}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.dinamoriga.lv/lv/zinas/kluba-zinas/dinamo-riga-panak-vienosanos-ar-amerikanu-uzbruceju-danny-kristo | title = Dinamo reach agreement with American Danny Kristo | publisher = Dinamo Riga | date = 2017-06-30 | access-date = 2017-06-30 | language = Latvian | archive-date = November 11, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201111191138/https://www.dinamoriga.lv/lv/zinas/kluba-zinas/dinamo-riga-panak-vienosanos-ar-amerikanu-uzbruceju-danny-kristo | url-status = dead }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.instagram.com/p/CDM2rc0gJ-6/ | title = Excited for next opportunity in KHL with Kunlun | publisher = Instagram | author = Danny Kristo | date = July 29, 2020 | access-date = July 29, 2020}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.aev-panther.de/panther/news_news,-Panther-verpflichten-Au%C3%9Fenst%C3%BCrmer-Danny-Kristo-_naid,3007.html | title = Panthers sign winger Danny Kristo | publisher = Augsburger Panther | date = January 8, 2021 | access-date = January 8, 2021 | language = German}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web| publisher = Rytíři Kladno | title = Rytíři Kladno sign 6 overseas players | url = https://www.rytirikladno.cz/clanek.asp?id=Rytirske-novinky-6-zamorskych-hracu-kanadsky-trener-nove-dresy-a-nahradni-stadion-7937 | date = July 14, 2021 | accessdate = July 14, 2021 | language = Czech}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://sheffieldsteelers.co.uk/steelers-sign-danny-kristo/ | title=Steelers Sign Danny Kristo | access-date=October 6, 2022 | archive-date=October 8, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008072648/https://sheffieldsteelers.co.uk/steelers-sign-danny-kristo/ | url-status=dead }}</ref>

In July 2023, Kristo moved to fellow Elite League club Coventry Blaze.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.coventryblaze.co.uk/2023/07/28/kristo-completes-blaze-forward-group/ | title=Kristo completes Blaze forward group }}{{Dead link|date=March 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ben Blood |url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/14382/ben-blood |website=eliteprospects.com |access-date=December 20, 2018}}</ref>

==Career statistics== ===Regular season and playoffs=== {| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em;" |- style="background:#e0e0e0;" ! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" | &nbsp; ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | &nbsp; ! colspan="5" | Regular&nbsp;season ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | &nbsp; ! colspan="5" | Playoffs |- style="background:#e0e0e0;" ! 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 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 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 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2007–08 | U.S. NTDP U18 | NAHL | 14 || 4 || 4 || 8 || 6 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 2007–08 | U.S. NTDP U18 | USDP | 55 || 21 || 17 || 38 || 49 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 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 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2010–11 | University of North Dakota | WCHA | 34 || 8 || 20 || 28 || 18 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 2011–12 | University of North Dakota | WCHA | 42 || 19 || 26 || 45 || 33 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2012–13 | University of North Dakota | WCHA | 40 || 26 || 26 || 52 || 24 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 2012–13 | Hamilton Bulldogs | AHL | 9 || 0 || 3 || 3 || 2 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 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 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2015–16 | Chicago Wolves | AHL | 71 || 25 || 23 || 48 || 29 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 2016–17 | Chicago Wolves | AHL | 8 || 0 || 2 || 2 || 2 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 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 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2017–18 | Dinamo Rīga | KHL | 42 || 8 || 13 || 21 || 6 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 2018–19 | Brynäs IF | SHL | 10 || 0 || 4 || 4 || 6 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2018–19 | SC Rapperswil–Jona Lakers | NL | 37 || 9 || 15 || 24 || 6 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 2019–20 | SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers | NL | 39 || 11 || 11 || 22 || 0 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2020–21 | Kunlun Red Star | KHL | 14 || 4 || 0 || 4 || 4 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 2020–21 | Augsburger Panther | DEL | 31 || 8 || 12 || 20 || 10 | — || — || — || — || —

|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 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 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 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 |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" | AHL totals ! 271 !! 82 !! 81 !! 163 !! 100 ! 20!! 3!! 4 !! 7 !! 2 |} {{MedalTableTop|name=}} {{MedalCountry | {{ih|USA}} }} {{MedalSport | Ice hockey}} {{MedalCompetition|World Championships}} {{MedalBronze|2013 Sweden/Finland|}} {{MedalCompetition|World Junior Championships}} {{MedalGold|2010 Canada|}} {{MedalCompetition|World Junior A Challenge}} {{MedalGold | 2008 Camrose|}} {{MedalCompetition|IIHF World U18 Championship|}} {{MedalBronze | 2008 Russia|}} {{MedalBottom}}

===International=== {| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:40em" |- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Year ! Team ! Event ! Result ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | &nbsp; ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM |- | 2008 | United States | WJC18 | {{bronze3}} | 7 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 2 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2009 | United States | WJC | 5th | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |- | 2010 | United States | WJC | {{gold1}} | 7 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 0 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2013 | United States | WC | {{bronze3}} | 10 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="4" | Junior totals ! 20 !! 9 !! 6 !! 15 !! 2 |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="4" | Senior totals ! 10 !! 1 !! 2 !! 3 !! 2 |}

==Awards and achievements== {| class="wikitable" ! Award ! Year ! |- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | colspan="3" | College |- | All-WCHA Rookie Team | 2009–10 | |- | All-WCHA First Team | 2012–13 | <ref>{{cite web | url = http://collegehockeyinc.com/pages/conference-honors-2012-13 | title = Conference Honors, 2012-13 | publisher = CollegeHockeyInc.com | date = 2013-03-20 | access-date = 2013-03-20 | archive-date = October 12, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131012040518/http://collegehockeyinc.com/pages/conference-honors-2012-13 | url-status = dead }}<!-- Bot generated title --></ref> |- | AHCA West First-Team All-American | 2012–13 | |- |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{Ice hockey stats|nhl=|elite=17504|espn=|euro=|hr=|hockeydb=113816|legendsm=|legends=|legendstype=|tsn=}}

{{s-start}} {{s-ach}} {{succession box | before = Jordan Schroeder | title = WCHA Rookie of the Year | years = 2009–10 | after = Jason Zucker}} {{S-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kristo, Danny}} Category:1990 births Category:Living people Category:American men's ice hockey right wingers Category:Augsburger Panther players Category:Brynäs IF players Category:Charlotte Checkers (2010–) players Category:Chicago Wolves players Category:Coventry Blaze players Category:Dinamo Riga players Category:Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL) players Category:Hartford Wolf Pack players Category:HC Kunlun Red Star players Category:Montreal Canadiens draft picks Category:Ice hockey players from Minnesota Category:Sportspeople from Eden Prairie, Minnesota Category:Ice hockey people from Hennepin County, Minnesota Category:North Dakota Fighting Hawks men's ice hockey players Category:SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers players Category:Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins players Category:AHCA Division I men's ice hockey All-Americans Category:Rytíři Kladno players Category:Västerviks IK players Category:HK Dukla Michalovce players Category:Sheffield Steelers players Category:American expatriate ice hockey players in Canada Category:American expatriate ice hockey players in Latvia Category:American expatriate ice hockey players in Sweden Category:American expatriate ice hockey players in Switzerland Category:American expatriate ice hockey players in China Category:American expatriate ice hockey players in Germany Category:American expatriate ice hockey players in the Czech Republic Category:American expatriate ice hockey players in Slovakia Category:American expatriate ice hockey players in England Category:21st-century American sportsmen