Ok - then call out Rowney, Hagelin, Rust, Sheary, etc. too. Because they've done less than Kunitz has this round. But keep fighting the good fight.
Rowney's producing nothing but then again he's not skating with Sid or Geno. His board battling and ability to be center is fine by me.
Hagelin's speed is actually helping his line maintain possession which is the anti-thesis to Kunitz. But his production has been zilch, so yeah, I'm not pleased.
Rust was Mr Clutch until recently. His lack of chemistry with Sid is something I've railed against. I want him off of Sid's line and tried with either Geno and Phil or be put back on the 3rd line. I've been vocal against Rust. However, Rust has speed so he can actually contribute something. Again, Kunitz has none and rarely does.
Sheary's been fine but falls down a lot.
Problem for you is, you likely do not watch the game and you only look at the score sheet afterwords. No sane person based in this reality that has actually watch the games with any amount of objectivity would say that Kunitz has made more impacts on the game than any of them.
Let's say you had two choices:
A) 14 stays with Sid. Hainsey sits. In comes Ruh.
B) Kunitz is scratched/on 4th line, while Hainsey keeps getting big minutes.
One ( Kunitz) is an annoying leach. The other ( Ron), is a legitimate major problem. Hainsey is the cause of many scoring chances against.
I agree Kunitz sucks. It's just he isn't as much of a detriment as said D. I'd prefer both A&B. I'm realistic though.
Both of those are unrealistic. So I'm not playing your game of entrapment. Obvious trap is obvious.
Clearly those disagreeing with Kunitz playing have axes to grind. Problem is, Kunitz keeps producing, and usually when its needed most. He will again, because thats what a wiley old vet does, and, for those clearly not able to grasp the concept, thats also a big reason why they are in the lineup in the SCF. There is no 'cross', just people on here that see the same value Sullivan sees. Some posters just dont get it. Oh well.
People have had an axe to grind with Kunitz for a long time and for good reason. Most of which has been clearly gone over several times. When 90% of the board rails on the game in and game out...you gotta think they are on to something. But no, you like the guy and give him a free pass, so every other person must be wrong.
Good new is, we have 3 games of him left, at most.
The thought process of these sorts of posts are deeply flawed. It's not always about the numbers. Just isolate on him when he's on the ice. (That's if you even bother to watch the games)
He doesn't though. And if he for some reason does, and does what you said, he's not going to watch it with any amount of objectively that would give people's criticism of him any legitimacy in his eyes. I'm sure had he watch Kunitz botch the breakaway it would have been "well...okay, maybe the sun was in his eye or maybe Nashville deflated the puck...not Kunitz's fault...at all!".
Of all the swords to fall on, why fall on one with Chris Kunitz?