Chris Kunitz

[IcedCapp]

We have a player discussion post for every other player under the sun.

Chris Kunitz: $3,725,000 cap hit, on pace for 39 goals.

A lot of people said the Dupuis contract was good, well, what's that make the Kunitz contract?

Not the physical player he used to be, Kunitz has remade himself in the mold of a scorer, with a better-than-most-people-think shot and the willingness and ability to get to the dirty areas to put home the trash.

Not as consistent as we'd like, and often criticized for "playing like ass", Kunitz has to have, on a cap hit: production ratio, one of the best bargain contracts in the NHL.

The Penguins have scored 228 goals this year, Kunitz and Crosby account for 68 (30%) of those goals.

So, a Kunitz discussion and, really, appreciation thread. Without him and Sid, this team would be in trouble this year.

Click to read more...

 

[Ogrezilla]

Kunitz is awesome, and he really has completely adjusted his game. He was playing a physical game and missing 20 games a year because of it. Now he's playing like a scorer and its working. I love Chris Kunitz, even if he does occasionally play like ass.

 

[Jedi Pengu*]

Yes, we're lucky to have Kunitz at that contract. Now if we can we can shed the horrible contracts (Orpik, Glass, etc.) Kunitz's deal should help us big time cap wise. Utilize our young cheaper defenseman and go get those skilled wingers. I'd go with the farm to replace the 4th liners. Always thought they play harder.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

The Kunitz deal is the partial counterweight to the abject awfulness of the Scuderi and Dupuis (to a lesser degree, only because of his usage) deals.

Yeah... he is prone to cold streaks where he looks like a third liner and he elicits some occasional frustration but really... what is there to complain about? He's a great compliment to both of the team's big players and a pretty good player in his own right.

I suppose there is some fear about him potentially breaking down as his contract wears on. But I think he still has a decent bit of tread on the tires, especially since he's been evolving his game more as a scorer. Worst case... he should still make for a pretty good third line/tweener on the tail end of his deal. Or I could see him still fetching interest from some teams down the road, if necessary.

 

[66-30-33]

20 goals the first 40 games, 14 goals since. Hope he can get atleast 2-3 more for 36/37.

 

[MetalheadPenguinsFan]

I'd love to see him hit 40 goals.

 

[Michael8771*]

He's already outplayed his cap hit, let's hope he gets hot in the playoffs when it matters most.

 

[cassius]

sorry, wrong thread..

 

[Speaking Moistly]

I love Kunitz even if I probably don't express that enough. The contract should be worth it even when he eventually drops off.

 

[#66]

I love everything he brings to the team but I think the biggest problem with KCD is Kunitz being the second wheel more than Dupuis being the third wheel.

I really would have liked to have seen...

Dupuis-Crosby-Neal
Kunitz-Malkin-Jokinen

 

[Crozbar]

The Pens have been really lucky to have one or more players really playing above themselves year after year. Without getting too negative or specific, it is a shame that a few other factors have weighed down the squad despite these bright spots.

Here's hoping Kunitz has a great playoffs.

 

[DrDangles]

As much as I love how Kunitz has adjusted his game, I miss his edgy physical play as well. We need that edge especially come playoff time.

 

[Fordy]

in the future when kunitz makes his way to the third line we will have a very interesting lineup

 

[WhatsaMaatta]

As much as I love how Kunitz has adjusted his game, I miss his edgy physical play as well. We need that edge especially come playoff time.

One of my favorite hits of this generation's Penguins. They used to really set the tone for playoff series with their physicality.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Glad he's found more of a scoring touch, but I kind of miss him being more of a physical presence. He still gets his hits, but he doesn't seem as punishing as before.

Can't complain about his cap hit. To get 30+ goals for under $4 million is quite a coup. I still contend he'd be at his best as a third wheel, but that's more on Shero and Bylsma than it is a criticism of anything about Kunitz.

And speaking of his scoring, he's damn streaky. The dude was on fire before the halfway point, but has been more around the 20 to 25 guy he's been over his career during the second half. If the Pens have any hope of going deep in the playoffs, they'll need first half Kunitz rather than second half Kunitz.

 

[66-30-33]

Kunitz was damn physical against the Flyers in that series (a few years ago). I love that Kunitz hit on Timonen, same with Army on Koivu of Montreal.

 

[xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

I love the production, but I miss the punishing physicality. He's also prone to taking a lot of dumb/lazy penalties, especially in the offensive zone, more specifically on the power play.

He'll be 35 come next season, which I think makes Sid's winger issue even more urgent. He can't keep this production up forever, especially considering where he scores a lot of his goals from.

 

[ObsessedCreative*]

I love the production, but I miss the punishing physicality. He's also prone to taking a lot of dumb/lazy penalties, especially in the offensive zone, more specifically on the power play.

He'll be 35 come next season, which I think makes Sid's winger issue even more urgent. He can't keep this production up forever, especially considering where he scores a lot of his goals from.

That's why we have tanner glass! Just ask the PGH media!

 

[Ogrezilla]

As much as I love how Kunitz has adjusted his game, I miss his edgy physical play as well. We need that edge especially come playoff time.

I miss physical Kunitz too, but he was constantly getting injured playing like that though. Kunitz simply isn't big enough to play that game into his late 30s.

 

[WVP]

Worth at least 5M/year at the moment.