Breaking: Four time Stanley Cup champion officially retires, joins NHL front office staff

Earlier this summer there were reports that NHL veteran Chris Kunitz was considering retirement, but today the 39 year old made it official. The four time Stanley Cup champion has retired from professional hockey and has joined the Chicago Blackhawks’ front office staff as a player development advisor. 

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Huge congrats to Kunitz on a fantastic career. The winger potted 268 goals and 619 points in 1022 career NHL games and, as mentioned above, won an incredible four Stanley Cup championships. He won his first Cup in 2007 with the Anaheim Ducks, then three Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009, 2016 and 2017.

The 39-year-old is a four-time Stanley Cup champion and will now assist Blackhawks head coach Jeremy Colliton and his coaching staff both at the NHL and AHL level.

“Chris had an outstanding professional career,” Colliton said in a prepared statement on the Blackhawks’ website. “His four Stanley Cups and Olympic gold medal speak for themselves. While coaching him last year, I recognized what an asset he would be for our staff and the organization. I’m very pleased to have him a part of our coaching group and, also, use him as a development resource for our young players in Rockford.”

“First and foremost, I’d like to sincerely thank the Anaheim Ducks, the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Chicago Blackhawks,” Kunitz said in the same statement. “Every one of these organizations was the ultimate example, not only to me, but to my children, on what true professionalism should be.

“Secondly, I’d like to thank the owners, coaches, trainers, management. Your love for the game, the team and the community was exemplified daily. I am very fortunate to have worked with every one of you.”

“Finally, to my teammates, thank you for everything. As a young player you taught me to give my very best. Your leadership helped mold me into the player I knew I could be. I was given the opportunity to play with the very best teams and the very best players and I’m grateful for the laughs and the friendships that we shared together. Thank you for making my childhood dream come true.”