After enduring a challenging season marked by a year-long recovery from an ACL tear, Luke Kunin finally regained his stride in January. Despite playing 77 games, it took him over a year to fully bounce back from the injury that prematurely ended his 2022-23 campaign in December 2022.
“I think once the new year kind of came around, the skating got better. The jump was kind of there. It takes time, we always talk about it,” Kunin said during his exit interview on Saturday.
While his offensive production was modest, with 11 goals and 18 points, Kunin made his presence felt in other ways. He led the Sharks with a career-high nine fights, forwards with 165 hits, and was a regular on the penalty kill. He even filled in at center after Tomas Hertl was traded.
Following Hertl’s departure, Kunin was named an alternate captain, along with Mikael Granlund, filling the void left by Hertl and injured captain Logan Couture. Despite some shortcomings in his game, Kunin brings a lot to the table, making him a valuable asset for the rebuilding Sharks.
“Kunny is someone who exemplifies a lot of the things that we’re looking for here, he was someone who was in the battle every night,” said GM Mike Grier. “We needed more guys doing that.”
Kunin expressed his excitement about being selected to Team USA for the World Championships. He emphasized the importance of having a healthy summer to focus on training, as opposed to rehab, and reiterated his desire to be a part of the Sharks’ rebuild.
Reflecting on his recovery from the ACL tear and his season performance, Kunin acknowledged that he made significant strides. Despite not having a summer to train, he was pleased with how he finished the season.
“There are a lot of things I can get better at. When you’re in this position and the season’s over, everyone is going to look in the mirror and figure out how they can be better, and myself included,” Kunin said.
Regarding the importance of having a healthy summer to train, Kunin emphasized that it is crucial for his physical development. He expressed his eagerness to get in the gym, work with the skills coach on the ice, and do everything necessary to come back stronger next season.
Kunin’s decision to play in the World Championship stems from his desire to compete at the highest level. He views it as an opportunity to play for his country, represent a strong team, and challenge for a championship.
Speaking about his leadership role on a young Sharks team, Kunin believes that leadership is inherent to his character. He approaches his role by leading by example, being a good teammate, and doing the things that contribute to team success.
“I feel like I’ve always been a leader. Even without the letter, I haven’t really changed much,” Kunin said. “I go about my business, try to lead by example, be a good teammate, do all the right things that make a good teammate. I try to bring the group closer together, try to drag guys into the fight and if you got enough guys that do that, you’re usually going to have success.”
As Kunin enters a contract year and unrestricted free agency in 2025, he leaves contract negotiations to his agent and Mike Grier. He expressed his desire to stay with the Sharks and help them turn things around.
“I think I’ll leave that up to [Mike Grier] and my agent to talk through all that stuff. I just want to be here. I want to win. I’ve said that since I’ve gotten here,” Kunin said. “He brought me in for a reason. I want to be here and help turn this around and get Sharks hockey back to winning, back to the playoffs and competing to signing every night.”
Whether it’s a one-year deal or a long-term commitment, Kunin is open to all options. He remains committed to helping the Sharks move in the right direction and is eager to be a part of their future success.
