[Retirement] Chris Kunitz

[Axeman33]

https://www.tsn.ca/four-time-stanley...awks-1.1344039

Chris Kunitz is hanging up his skates. The four-time Stanley Cup champion and Olympic gold medallist announced his retirement on Tuesday after 15 NHL seasons with the Anaheim Ducks, Pittsburgh Penguins, Tampa Bay Lightning and Chicago Blackhawks.

The four-time Stanley Cup champion and Olympic gold medallist announced his retirement on Tuesday after 15 NHL seasons with the Anaheim Ducks, Pittsburgh Penguins, Tampa Bay Lightning and Chicago Blackhawks.

Kunitz, who scored five goals and posted 10 points in 56 games in his first year with Chicago this past season, will remain the Blackhawks, joining the team's hockey operations department as a player development adviser.

Forward Chris Kunitz announced his retirement following 15 seasons in the @NHL. Congrats on an incredible playing career Kuni!

Kunitz now joins the Blackhawks hockey ops department as Player Development Adviser, assisting Chicago's coaching staff as well as the @goicehogs staff! pic.twitter.com/PyypVzb469
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) July 30, 2019


The 39-year-old ends his playing career with 268 goals and 619 points in 1,022 NHL games. He added 27 goals and 83 points in 178 playoff games over the course of his career, missing the postseason on just four occasions.

"I feel very fortunate to have been a part of four amazing organizations over the last 15 years," Kunitz said Tuesday. "First and foremost, I'd like to sincerely thank the Anaheim Ducks, the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Chicago Blackhawks. Every one of these organizations was the ultimate example, not only to me, but to my children, on what true professionalism should be.

[mounD]

pouring one out for a real legend, olympic champion Chris Kunitz.

[ericdaoust]

In 2012-13 and 2013-14 he was one of the best fantasy power forwards around. Absolutely ridiculous.

[Dr.Brad]

I met Chris Kunitz at the door of a sports bar in Pittsburgh. He bet me a beer that no one (else) would recognize him on his way over to his table. Yeah.... He had no chance - even tho he was dressed like a college grad student in a sweater-vest. Best wishes to a quality man.

[mounD]

In 2012-13 and 2013-14 he was one of the best fantasy power forwards around. Absolutely ridiculous.

Sidney Crosby turned this man into a god damn Olympian. He's probably my favorite Sid running mate of all time, slightly ahead of Pascal Dupuis. HM to Marian Hossa, although it was so short lived.

[ericdaoust]

Sidney Crosby turned this man into a god damn Olympian. He's probably my favorite Sid running mate of all time, slightly ahead of Pascal Dupuis. HM to Marian Hossa, although it was so short lived.

For a H2H multi-cat title run in 2013 I had Kunitz, Dupuis and Hossa on my team. Also had Brenden Morrow who was traded to Pittsburgh that same year and ended the year on a tear.

[Axeman33]

He certainly carved out a nice little career riding Sid's coattails. Strange the the ones you don't expect to gel with superstars sometimes do, and that was the case with Kunitz. He just seems to work well with Sid even though he wasn't no where near the same level. He had no business on that top line and yet, it worked.

[mounD]

He certainly carved out a nice little career riding Sid's coattails. Strange the the ones you don't expect to gel with superstars sometimes do, and that was the case with Kunitz. He just seems to work well with Sid even though he wasn't no where near the same level. He had no business on that top line and yet, it worked.

Crosby has always been the most elite "grinder" in the NHL in my estimation. His style of play along the boards was perfectly complemented by a guy like Chris Kunitz. He could skate very well, he was great on the forecheck, he had decent hands unlike Dupuis, and he was a talented enough finisher to clean up the chances provided by Sid. It's not like he was just some scrub or something, but playing with Crosby allowed him to unlock a level of upside I don't think even he knew he had.

[Godin]

Nice career for an undrafted college player.

Yeah, I won a pool with him on my team in 2012-13.

[The Comish]

Decently useful player who worked hard and found his niche. Happy trails CK!