Luke Kunin and the Nashville Predators agreed to a two-year deal with an AAV of $2.3M. Kunin was a restricted free agent and was acquired in a deal with the Minnesota Wild on the second day of the 2020 NHL Draft in exchange for well-loved forward Nick Bonino. A few picks traded places in the deal as well.
The 23-year-old forward completed his third full professional season in 2019-20, spending the entire campaign with the Wild. He established career highs in games played (63), goals (15), assists (16) and points (31) last season and added in two goals in four postseason contests. The 6-foot, 192-pound forward has suited up for 131 career NHL games—all with Minnesota—since making his debut in 2017, and has tallied 52 points (23g-29a) over that span. Kunin has also recorded 47 points (27g-20a) in 76 career AHL games with the Iowa Wild, the team he made his professional debut with at the end of the 2016-17 season.
Predators General Manager David Poile spoke highly of Luke Kunin upon the acquisition: “Luke Kunin is a solid, young, up-and-coming player with a great future ahead of him. He is a former first-round pick with good pedigree that can play both center and on the wing, and in all situations, including on the penalty kill and the power play.” Kunin slotted in on the wing in his first full practice with the team today.