The deals continue to roll in as free agency enters the dog days of summer.
The San Jose Sharks got things started on Monday with a little depth signing of their own, agreeing to terms with forward Luke Kunin on a two-year contract extension worth an average annual value of $2.75 million.
The details of the deal, which now ties Kunin to San Jose through the 2023-24 season, such as its salary structure and inclusion of any trade protection have yet to be released.
It’s been a whirlwind start in the NHL for Kunin. The 24-year-old is now on his third team in what is about to be six big-league seasons, bouncing from the Minnesota Wild, to the Predators, and now to the Sharks.
Suiting up in all 82 games for Nashville last season, Kunin had a somewhat underwhelming campaign for a former first-round pick, racking up 13 goals and nine assists for 22 points while logging a little under 14 minutes in ice time per night.
Interestingly, Kunin saw a massive uptick in penalty minutes last season compared to his career average, serving 99 minutes in 2021-22 that nearly doubled his previous single-season high of 55.
Clearly, Kunin developed some fire last year as he fought for his NHL future.
On a comparatively weaker Sharks team now, Kunin will have far more opportunity to carve out a consistent role for himself at hockey’s highest level. Lauded by scouts after being selected 15th overall in 2016, there is clearly some potential in Kunin that he has yet to unlock.
Perhaps a lower-stakes environment is a perfect situation to allow him to do it.
