The Nashville Predators have traded restricted free agent Luke Kunin to the San Jose Sharks. In return, the Predators receive John Leonard and a 2023 third-round pick.
Luke Kunin Traded to Sharks
🚨 TRADE: The #SJSharks have traded John Leonard and a third round pick in 2023 to the Nashville Predators for Luke Kunin. pic.twitter.com/s0mxn3x4Gy
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) July 8, 2022
The Chesterfield, Mo. native scored 13 goals and nine assists for 22 points in 82 games with the Nashville Predators this season. Kunin had a Corsi for of 44.6 and a relative Corsi of -5.1. He was originally drafted by the Minnesota Wild in the first round, 15th overall of the 2016 NHL Draft.
The 24-year-old has played for the Wild and the Predators over his five-year NHL career. He has 46 goals and 47 assists for 93 points in 251 career games. His best season was with the s Wild in the 2019-20 season when he logged 15 goals and 16 assists for 31 points in 63 games. He’s been a double-digit goal-scorer the last three seasons.
He played for the United States National Development Team program before going to play two seasons at the University of Wisconsin. Kunin scored 41 goals in two seasons for the Badgers before signing with the Wild. He signed his three-year, entry-level deal with Minnesota after his sophomore season. Nashville acquired Kunin via trade with the Wild, who got Nick Bonino in return.
What It Means
Kunin is an RFA and has arbitration rights. His qualifying offer will cost $2.3 million dollars.
Kunin isn’t flashy, but he’s an effective NHL player that does whatever is asked of him. He can slot into the middle six and be a secondary scorer and throw his body around.
He does possess a strong hockey IQ and usually makes the right play when asked of him. Kunin averaged around 14 minutes per game of ice time and was a part of John Hynes’ system in the Music City.
He’s not going to light the world of fire with goals, but he’s a solid roleplayer. Teams need players like Kunin if they want to be a complete hockey team.
🚨#TradeCentre ALERT🚨: #SJSharks acquiring F Luke Kunin from the #Preds (via @reporterchris)…
Follow every deal in our Trade Tracker – https://t.co/lTl9gr0T6Z#TSNHockey pic.twitter.com/fNcaFJSrlC
— TSN Hockey (@TSNHockey) July 8, 2022
