Christopher Kunitz, born on September 26, 1979, is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger who enjoyed a remarkable career in the National Hockey League (NHL). His journey from junior hockey to becoming a four-time Stanley Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist is a testament to his skill, dedication, and perseverance.
Early Career and College Years
Kunitz played Junior A in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) with the Melville Millionaires for two seasons before joining the NCAA college ranks with the Ferris State Bulldogs in 1999-00. After a 79-point campaign in his senior year, he was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award in 2003, the same year Ferris State made it to the Division I Regional Finals.
NHL Career Highlights
Kunitz finished his 15-year NHL career with 268 goals and 351 assists (619 points) in 1022 games with the Ducks, Penguins, Lightning and Blackhawks. Let's delve into the significant milestones and achievements throughout his NHL journey.
Anaheim Mighty Ducks (2003-2009)
Kunitz was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim on April 1, 2003. He split his professional rookie season between Anaheim and their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks. In the 2006-07 NHL season, Kunitz improved to 25 goals and 60 points. He went on to help the Ducks advance through the playoffs, past the Minnesota Wild, Vancouver Canucks, and Detroit Red Wings, en route to a Finals victory against the Ottawa Senators to capture both his and the franchise's first Stanley Cup championship.
In the 2007-08 season, Kunitz was named one of the team's alternate captains. In the midst of another slow season in 2008-09, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins along with prospect Eric Tangradi for defenceman Ryan Whitney. The move was also precipitated by a need for secondary scoring on the Penguins behind Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
Read also: A Look at Chris Simon's Impact
Pittsburgh Penguins (2009-2017)
Since 2010, he has been a regular member of the Penguins' top lines with Evgeni Malkin and/or Sidney Crosby. On November 6, 2010, Kunitz played his 400th career game and recorded a goal in that game against the Phoenix Coyotes. On March 15, 2016, he played his 800th career game and recorded a goal against the New York Islanders.
In the 2016 Playoffs, he recorded 4 goals and 8 assists for 12 points, as the Penguins went to defeat the San Jose Sharks in six games in 2016. It would be Kunitz's third Stanley Cup of his career, his second with the Pens. On May 25, 2017, Kunitz recorded the last career playoff goal of his career when he scored in double overtime in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Ottawa Senators; he became the oldest player to score a Game 7 playoff series winning goal, at age 37.
The Penguins faced off against the Nashville Predators in the 2017 Finals, defeating them in six games to successfully defend the Stanley Cup, with Kunitz assisting on the series-winning goal.
Kunitz with Sidney Crosby receiving the Prince of Wales Trophy in 2017.
Tampa Bay Lightning (2017-2018)
On July 1, 2017, Kunitz left the Penguins as a free agent and signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Lightning announced through its social media account that Kunitz would wear the #14. Kunitz found himself in Tampa Bay’s bottom-6 and collected just 29 points (13G / 16A) in 82 games.
Chicago Blackhawks (2018-2019)
On July 1, 2018, Kunitz signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Chicago Blackhawks. He figures to have a similar role with the Blackhawks this season.
Read also: The Legacy of Chris Osgood
Top 10 Penguins Moments Of The Decade
International Career
Kunitz made his international hockey debut for Team Canada at the 2008 World Hockey Championships. He contributed 7 points in 9 games, helping Canada to a silver medal.
Retirement and Post-Playing Career
On July 30, 2019, Kunitz announced his retirement from professional hockey after 15 seasons. Kunitz will join the Blackhawks hockey operations department as player development adviser.
Personal Life and Community Involvement
Kunitz attended Michael A. Riffel High School in northwest Regina, graduating in 1997. Ten years after his graduation, he brought the Stanley Cup back to Riffel in July 2007 when he had his day with the trophy. He also took the Stanley Cup back to his college town (Big Rapids, Michigan) on the same day.
On August 11, 2009, Kunitz brought the trophy back to Regina and had a larger celebration in the city's downtown. Kunitz married Chicago-native Maureen Pfeiffer in July 2008. The couple reside with their three children in Chicago.
Career Statistics
Here's a summary of Chris Kunitz's NHL career statistics:
Read also: Learn about Chris Clark's hockey journey
| Season | Team | Games Played | Goals | Assists | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-2019 | Anaheim Ducks, Pittsburgh Penguins, Tampa Bay Lightning, Chicago Blackhawks | 1022 | 268 | 351 | 619 |