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San Jose Sharks on The Hockey News
Luke Kunin Is Open To Signing A Multi-Year Contract With The Sharks
By Max Miller,
2024-04-28
Pending RFA, Luke Kunin told reporters that he is open to signing a multi-year contract extension with the San Jose Sharks.
Kunin completed his two-year $5.5 million contract this season. He is an RFA with arbitration rights; his qualifying offer is $3 million. Kunin was excited when asked if he would sign a multi-year extension but said he left that stuff up to his agent.
"I leave that up to [Mike Grier and] my agent talking through all that stuff," Kunin said. "I just want to play hockey. I want to be here. I want to win. I've said that since I've gotten here. [Grier] brought me in for a reason. I want to be here and help turn this around and get Sharks hockey back to winning [and] back to the playoffs, competing every night."
The assistant captain doubled down when asked to confirm whether he was interested in signing a multi-year deal.
"Absolutely," he said. "Like I said, that's out of my control. That's up to Grier and what he sees fit."
Kunin is headed to play for Team USA at the upcoming IIHF World Championship.
The winger is coming off his first season removed since his torn ACL injury cut his 2022-23 short. He finished this season with 11 goals and seven assists in 77 games. He was only able to play 31 in 22-23.
"I think once a new year came around, the skating got better. The jump was there. It takes time, you know? We always talk about it," he explained. "[You] think you feel like you're ready to go day one of camp. A month goes by, and you see the progress. Two months go by, and it kind of just keeps going on and on. Now we're sitting here looking at the year as a whole, and you can really see the difference. So you know, what's the next five months gonna do? I think it will do a lot for me, and I'm looking forward to that."
After the Sharks traded Tomas Hertl to the Vegas Golden Knights and Logan Couture told reporters he wouldn't play the remainder of the season, Mikael Granlund and Kunin were given assistant captaincies.
"I feel like I've always been a leader, even without the letter. I haven't really changed much since that happened," Kunin said. "I go about my business. Try to lead by example. Be a good teammate. Do all the right things that I think a good teammate does. [I try to] bring the group closer together, try to drag guys into the fight, and if you've got enough guys that do that, usually you're gonna have success."
Kunin was given ample time on the Sharks' second line this season. He was often one of former head coach David Quinn's go-to guys when he needed someone to fill in at center. He played with William Eklund on his wing and eventually Collin Graf.
With a head coaching change on the way, there is no telling what Kunin's or any other players' role on the team could be. As Kunin mentioned, Grier traded for Luke Kunin, which should speak to him being part of the future.
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