Veteran forward Chris Kunitz has been a staple of the Pittsburgh Penguins offense for nearly a decade, but with his three-year, $11.5 million contract expiring on July 1st, his future in the Steel City is up in the air.
NHL insider David Pagnotta is reporting that the 37 year-old is still reportedly in negotiations with the Penguins, but is surprisingly receiving some free agent interest from around the league.
In 71 games with the Penguins in 2016-17, the winger scored 9 goals and 29 points, a steep decline from the 17 goals and 40 points he produced just one year prior. He’s just three seasons removed from a 35 goal, 68 point season in 2013-14, but few teams have the center depth that the Penguins have in helping Kunitz ascend to such heights.
Of course most hockey fans will remember Kunitz’s clutch goal in overtime during Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final this postseason. His rocket over the shoulder of Ottawa Senators goaltender Craig Anderson lifted the Penguins back into the Stanley Cup Final for a second consecutive season. Might another team eager for a clutch performer overpay in term or dollars for Kunitz come July 1st? Only time will tell.
