Luke Kunin

Luke Kunin (born December 4, 1997) is an American professional ice hockey center currently playing with the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL). Kunin was selected 15th overall by the Minnesota Wild in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.[1]

Luke Kunin
Kunin with the Minnesota Wild in 2019
Born	December 4, 1997 Chesterfield, Missouri, U.S.
Height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight	193 lb (88 kg; 13 st 11 lb)
Position	Centre
Shoots	Right
NHL team Former teams	Nashville Predators Minnesota Wild
National team	United States
NHL Draft	15th overall, 2016 Minnesota Wild
Playing career	2017–present

Early life

Kunin is the son of Sheri and Mark Kunin, and has an older brother Nick.[2][3] He was born in Chesterfield, Missouri, and is Jewish.[4][5][6]

In grade 6, Kunin was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. His friend and, then, teammate Matthew Tkachuk arranged for Kunin to meet with St. Louis Blues player B. J. Crombeen who also had type 1 diabetes.[7] Kunin and Tkachuk played in the 2010 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the St. Louis Blues minor ice hockey team.[8] Kunin later went to Whitfield School in Missouri for one year and then spent time with the U.S National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Michigan.[9] He graduated from high school in three years.[2]

Playing career

College

In the 2015–16 season, his freshman year with the Wisconsin Badgers, he was the second-youngest player in college hockey. Kunin scored 19 goals (third-most among NCAA freshmen) and 32 points in 34 games and was named to the Big Ten Conference All-Rookie Team.[10][11]

In the 2016–17 season, Kunin was elected as the Wisconsin team captain, becoming only the second sophomore captain in the team's history.[2] The last sophomore to have had achieved this honor was Mike Eaves 40 years ago.[2][12] He led the Badgers with 22 goals and 38 points in 35 games, good enough for Second Team All Big Ten.

On January 5, 2017, Kunin won a gold medal at the 2017 IIHF World Junior U20 Championship as Captain of Team USA in a 5-4 shootout win against Team Canada.[13]

Minnesota Wild

At the conclusion the 2016–17 season, Kunin ended his collegiate career by signing a three-year, entry-level contract with the Minnesota Wild on March 23, 2017.[10] He was assigned to conclude the season with AHL affiliate, the Iowa Wild, on an amateur try-out deal.[14]

In the 2017–18 season, on October 26, 2017, Kunin recorded his first goal against the New York Islanders in an eventual 6–4 win.[15] He became the first player in team history to score their first career NHL goal shorthanded.[16] However, on October 29 Kunin was sent back to the Iowa Wild, Minnesota's AHL affiliate.[17] On January 4, 2018, Kunin was selected to represent the Wild at the 2018 AHL All-Star game.[18] He became the fourth player in team history to be named an All Star, joining former Wild players Alex Tuch, Mathew Dumba, and Gustav Olofsson.[19] Kunin was called up to the Wild on February 28, 2018, however he received a season ending injury, a torn ACL, in a game against the Detroit Red Wings on March 4, 2018.[16] He underwent surgery for his ACL a month later and was given a 6–7 month recovery time.[20] On October 8, Kunin was medically cleared to return to the ice and was immediately assigned to the Iowa Wild to begin the 2018–19 season.[21] Nearly two months later, on December 9, Kunin was called up the NHL for the first time that season as a replacement centerman for injured Mikko Koivu.[22]

Nashville Predators

On October 7, 2020, Kunin and a 2020 fourth-round pick were traded to the Nashville Predators in exchange for Nick Bonino and a 2020 second and fourth-round pick.[23]

On January 6, 2021, Kunin signed a two-year, $4.6 million contract with the Predators.[24]

International play

In 2013-14 he won the U.S. National Team World Under-17 Hockey Challenge Gold Medal, and in 2014-15 he won the U.S. National Team WJC IIHF World Under-18 Championship Gold Medal.[25]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2013–14	U.S. National Development Team	USHL		32	11	12	23	27		—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	U.S. National Development Team	USHL		20	10	4	14	12		—	—	—	—	—
2015–16	University of Wisconsin	B1G		34	19	13	32	34		—	—	—	—	—
2016–17	University of Wisconsin	B1G		35	22	16	38	30		—	—	—	—	—
2016–17	Iowa Wild	AHL		12	5	3	8	16		—	—	—	—	—
2017–18	Iowa Wild	AHL		36	10	9	19	34		—	—	—	—	—
2017–18	Minnesota Wild	NHL		19	2	2	4	13		—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	Iowa Wild	AHL		25	9	7	16	30		11	6	2	8	18
2018–19	Minnesota Wild	NHL		49	6	11	17	27		—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	Minnesota Wild	NHL		63	15	16	31	55		4	2	0	2	2
NHL totals				131	23	29	52	95		4	2	0	2	2

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2014	United States	U17			6	2	4	6	0
2015	United States	WJC18			7	6	0	6	2
2017	United States	WJC			7	2	2	4	25
2019	United States	WC	7th		3	0	0	0	0
Junior totals					20	10	6	16	27
Senior totals					3	0	0	0	0

Awards and honors

Award	Year
College
B1G All-Rookie Team	2016	[11]
B1G All-Tournament Team	2017
B1G Second All-Star Team	2017
AHCA West Second-Team All-American	2017	[26]
AHL
AHL All-Star Game	2018	[18]

See also

• List of select Jewish ice hockey players

References

1. "Wild takes Wisconsin center Luke Kunin". Minneapolis Star Tribune. June 24, 2016. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
2. "Luke Kunin". uwbadgers.com. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
3. Russo, Michael (June 24, 2016). "About Luke Kunin". Star Tribune. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
4. "Jewish Sports Review". Retrieved December 23, 2017.
5. Ron Kaplan (June 29, 2016). "JML, the next generation?". New Jersey Jewish News. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
6. Kaplan, Ron (October 20, 2017). "Shalom, Luke Kunin". kaplanskorner.com. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
7. Dennis Punzel (January 15, 2016). "Diabetes doesn't keep freshman forward Luke Kunin from making a quick impact". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
8. "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Retrieved 2019-01-02.
9. Mayes, Warren (July 8, 2016). "Chesterfield's Kunin ready to take part in Minnesota Wild's prospect camp". westnewsmagazine.com. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
10. "Wild sign first-round pick, Badgers captain Luke Kunin". foxsports.com. March 23, 2017. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
11. "Luke Kunin named to Big Ten All-Freshman team". wiba.com. March 15, 2016. Archived from the original on May 10, 2017. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
12. Lund, Ryan (July 20, 2017). "Wild could have future captain in Kunin". foxsports.com. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
13. Mizutani, Dane (September 28, 2017). "Wild think Luke Kunin will be an NHL player, maybe very soon". duluthnewstribune.com. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
14. "Luke Kunin: "I want to be a winner wherever I go"". Minnesota Star Tribune. March 23, 2017. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
15. Jessi Pierce (October 27, 2017). "Shorthanded goals help Wild win against Islanders". NHL.com. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
16. Sarah Mclellan (March 5, 2018). "Former Wild No. 1 pick Luke Kunin suffers torn ACL". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 7, 2017.
17. "Wild's Luke Kunin: Sent back to AHL". CBS Sports. October 31, 2017. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
18. "ROSTERS ANNOUNCED FOR 2018 AHL ALL-STAR CLASSIC". theahl.com. January 4, 2018. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
19. "FORWARD LUKE KUNIN NAMED CENTRAL DIVISION ALL-STAR". iowawild.com. January 4, 2018. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
20. "Kase, Ducks beat Wild to clinch playoff berth". tsn.ca. April 5, 2018. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
21. Myers, Dan (October 8, 2018). "Kunin cleared, heads to Iowa for next step in return from ACL surgery". NHL.com. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
22. McLellan, Sarah (December 9, 2018). "With Mikko Koivu injured, Wild recalls Luke Kunin from Iowa". Star Tribune. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
23. "Predators acquire Luke Kunin, 101st overall pick from the Wild". Nashville Predators. October 7, 2020. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
24. "Predators Sign Luke Kunin to Two-Year, $4.6 Million Contract". Nashville Predators. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
25. "Luke Kunin" - Eliteprospects.com
26. "2016-2017 All-American Team". The American Hockey Coaches Association. Retrieved December 23, 2017.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from Eliteprospects.com, or The Internet Hockey Database