4. Luke Kunin, C/W (1-15, 2016)
36 gp, 10 g, 9 a, 19 p, 5 PPG (1 A), 1 GWG, 77 SOG, .53 pts/g. Iowa Wild, AHL
19 gp, 2 g, 2 a, 4 p, 1 SHG, 32 SOG, 12:59 TOI. Minnesota Wild, NHL
Luke Kunin has played 19 games in the NHL. At this point in his career, that’s an excellent mark of what the Minnesota Wild believe he can be, and even after he was dropped to the AHL, the Wild kept tabs on him. With 19 points in 36 games, including ten goals, they likely had no choice. Kunin has made the Minnesota Wild keep permanent tabs on him since he was drafted, and after two great years in the NCAA, his professional transition has gone well.
Kunin is not the center the Wild need. He’s likely not a center. But he could be a top-six goal scorer, proving that in the NCAA and again in his 48 AHL games to this point. 10 goals in 36 games don’t seem like first-line numbers but could be a potential indicator of second-line potential. Niederreiter is just 25. Zucker is 26, and so is Mikael Granlund. The Wild have wings ahead of Kunin for the near future.
While that changes his likelihood of playing consistently with the Wild in the near future, it should only help him in the long-term. Giving him an opportunity to continue growing in the AHL before making a splash on the third line and then getting a chance at the top six could be the route Kunin takes. That would allow him a chance to grow and get better acquainted with the professional game before becoming a more relied upon member of the Wild. He’s got the potential and the skill set to be a significant piece. It could just be about patience right now.