Penguins/NHL
Has Kunitz played his last game as a Penguin?
37 year old Chris Kunitz who is 6th all-time in Penguins history with 106 career playoff games, won’t get an opportunity to add to that total anytime soon.
Kunitz is sidelined with a long-term injury, Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan said today during his pre-game media session.
The Penguins are bracing for Kunitz to be sidelined for multiple weeks and he will certainly not be available to play in the first round. A source close to the situation said the best case scenario for Kunitz would be a [hide] a return in early May and that’s an optimistic view at this point.
A free agent at seasons end, if Kunitz has indeed played his last game as a Penguin, it’s been quite a run in Pittsburgh.
A mainstay as the Penguins top-line left winger for several seasons, Kunitz is 9th all-time in goals (169) in Penguins history, 13th in points (388) and won two Stanley Cups.
In the immediate, Kunitz production has declined the last couple months with 3 goals and 5 assists over his last 28 games but the injury still leaves a hole on the left side with Carl Hagelin’s status in doubt for the start of the playoffs.
Even at his age, Kunitz was still valued by the coaching staff in ability to play up and down the lineup and the hockey IQ as he remains effective at creating zone entries and keeping plays alive. The skating ability and shape he keeps himself in, the Penguins have felt Kunitz could still play another couple years.
With Kunitz out and Evgeni Malkin not even back to practicing with the team yet, Josh Archibald draws into the lineup vs the Hurricanes and is expected to skate on the 4th line with Scott Wilson and Carter Rowney.
The Kunitz injury leaves the Penguins thin tonight at left wing as Conor Sheary is now a right winger.
Phil Kessel has had to play there some due to injuries. Yesterday in practice Bryan Rust skated on left wing with Nick Bonino and Kessel. We could see that tonight.
Ron Hainsey who did not practice on Saturday, is good to go today.
In goal today vs the Hurricanes will be Matt Murray. [/hide]
the winning formula for the blue jackets to beat the pens in the 1st round. 1. take out crosby, 2. do everything in their power to get st.bleury in the net
look for the blue jackets to try to murder crosby and run over murray at least 20 times tonight.
quality write up on what will likely be the game which determines home ice advantage for the first round.
Wow 3 goals in 43 seconds I bet DB is enjoy it
Arena is invaded with leafs fans I’d say 90% is leafs fans
NHL pulls out of the Olympics… I was hoping for a McDavid to Crosby and vice versa a-la-Mario and Gretz circa ’87
Maybe bettman was tired seeing Canada always win and didint want to see more of US getting humiliated anymore
Boring rains won
RIP Deadman best ever in the business
The show hasnt been good in years but it’s tragic what they did to that character. I know he hand picked Brock to end the streak but to lose the last one too? Stupid
Just suckss that it’s obvious that fans don’t want him as the face of the company and for them seeing that and still shoving that one dimensional garbage down fans throat is bad. I for has not watch a lot wrestling lately since the attitude Era always watched more when taker comes back but now that he retired I can finally retire watching it too.
Murray looking more Fleury- esq by the day.
i.e. won a stanley cup and right away becomes the goat in the eyes of those that struggle with the game when things dont go smoothly…
Kunitz is a huge loss.
Apparently wrestle mania today is in Orlando and while every fan are inside the stadium watching wrestling npl is outside all alone the arena with #BlackCocksMatter protest
Sounds like something you wouldnt mind backing
Cool story bro!
Holy fuckk, if that was MAF? I’m expecting a ten page essay on Murray being a mental midget yoda
I broke this story yesterday. You’re welcome.
I’m starting to wonder the the Pens training staff is actually invoked…this team is constantly injured
In case you just start following the pens for last few years like stain and npl. Pens Been like this for a long time. This team has the most injuries since 2009 I would say
Except last year… and except the fact that the entire staff was fired then too… other than that it’s a consisten issue with nothing changing
Jesus… remove the 1st “then” and there is a t missing lol
Hence why I mentioned their training staff. But a few players are hurt more then others, you can’t help the team if you can’t play.
CM has gotta CM
It’s difficult to call it dumb luck year after year.
Incredible insight!