LUKE KUNIN NEWS

Nabs helper in Thursday's loss Kunin notched an assist and two hits in Thursday's 3-2 loss to the Rangers.

Impact Kunin has spent some time on the fourth line recently, though he has received looks in the middle six at times this year. The 26-year-old could be a candidate to move from wing to center after Nico Sturm (upper body) was injured in Thursday's game. Kunin is at six points, 21 shots on net, 38 hits, 29 blocked shots, 15 PIM and a minus-3 rating over 18 outings.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Plucks apple in loss Kunin notched an assist, four hits and three blocked shots in Saturday's 3-2 loss to the Canucks.

Impact This was Kunin's third straight game with an assist. The 26-year-old forward continues to offer gritty production and some secondary scoring from a middle-six role. He's up to five points, 19 shots on net, 30 hits, 20 blocked shots, 13 PIM and a minus-1 rating over 13 appearances. That's enough overall to be worth a look in deeper fantasy formats that play a lot of categories.

NOVEMBER 3 • ROTOWIRE

Lends assist Thursday Kunin notched an assist and two hits in Thursday's 3-2 win over the Blackhawks.

Impact Kunin has a helper in each of the last two games, and he's gotten on the scoresheet in three of the last four contests. The 26-year-old forward set up Will Smith's first career goal at 6:52 of the first period. Kunin now has four points, 18 shots on net, 26 hits, 17 blocked shots, 13 PIM and a minus-1 rating through 12 appearances. He can bring physicality and some defensive stats in a middle-six role, but Kunin's typically not much of a scorer, which hinders his fantasy value.

NOVEMBER 1 • ROTOWIRE

Posts helper in win Kunin logged an assist, two shots on goal, two hits, two PIM and three blocked shots in Tuesday's 4-2 win over the Kings.

Impact Kunin set up William Eklund's empty-net tally to seal the Sharks' second win in a row. After a slow start to the year, Kunin has a goal and an assist over his last three outings. He's at three points, 17 shots on net, 24 hits, 16 blocked shots, 13 PIM and a minus-2 rating through 11 contests overall. The 26-year-old offers grit and decent defensive play in a middle-six role, though his offense is likely to remain limited.

OCTOBER 30 • ROTOWIRE

Puts away goal Kunin scored a goal on two shots, added two PIM and logged four hits in Saturday's 7-3 loss to the Golden Knights.

Impact Kunin netted his second goal of the season, a third-period tally that had little impact on the result. The 26-year-old forward has yet to record an assist while adding 13 shots on net, 11 PIM, 20 hits, 13 blocked shots and a minus-1 rating over nine contests. Kunin plays in a bottom-six role, and while he can supply some toughness, his offense is unlikely to be consistent on a weak team.

OCTOBER 27 • ROTOWIRE

Howden scores twice as Golden Knights win 7-3 and hand Sharks ninth straight loss

Brett Howden scored twice, Mark Stone had a goal and two assists and the Vegas Golden Knights beat the winless San Jose Sharks 7-3

OCTOBER 27 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Buries goal in loss Kunin scored a goal on two shots, blocked four shots and added two PIM in Friday's 8-3 loss to the Jets.

Impact The tally was Kunin's first point in five games this season. He's filled a middle-six role, and over the last three contests, he's also picked up power-play time as injuries mount for the Sharks. The 26-year-old forward has added eight shots on net, 13 hits, 10 blocked shots and a minus-2 rating. He's more of a defensive forward, so don't expect him to be a frequent presence on the scoresheet.

OCTOBER 19 • ROTOWIRE

Ehlers and Perfetti score 2 goals each and fast-starting Jets hammer Sharks 8-3

Nikolaj Ehlers and Cole Perfetti scored two goals each as the Winnipeg Jets stayed unbeaten with an 8-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks

OCTOBER 19 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Pots pair of goals Kunin scored twice on three shots and went plus-3 in Saturday's 6-5 preseason win over the Golden Knights.

Impact Kunin scored twice over the final three minutes of the game, tying it at 5-5 before Ethan Cardwell netted the game-winner with 12 seconds to go. The 26-year-old Kunin saw 21:02 of ice time Saturday with the Sharks dressing a number of AHL-level players. It's expected his role will be smaller in the regular season -- Kunin averaged 15:44 per game while producing 18 points over 77 contests in 2023-24.

OCTOBER 6 • ROTOWIRE

Agrees to one-year deal Kunin signed a one-year, $2.75 million contract with San Jose on Sunday.

Impact Kunin collected 11 goals, 18 points, 98 shots on net and 165 hits across 77 games with the Sharks during the 2023-24 campaign. Despite having limited offensive upside, the 26-year-old forward could occupy a middle-six role and see power-play time next season.

JUNE 30 • ROTOWIRE

Nets goal Thursday Kunin scored a goal on two shots, logged three hits, blocked four shots, added two PIM and went plus-2 in Thursday's 3-1 win over the Kraken.

Impact Kunin filled the box score in this contest. The center has earned three points over his last four contests while adding 10 hits and a plus-3 rating in that span. He's been solid in a middle-six role this season, racking up 18 points, 96 shots on net, 162 hits, 58 blocked shots, 81 PIM and a minus-26 rating through 74 outings. Kunin's offense is too low to help in most fantasy formats, but he offers upside with physicality.

APRIL 12 • ROTOWIRE

Scores in home state Kunin scored a goal on two shots, added three hits and went plus-2 in Saturday's 4-0 win over the Blues.

Impact The Missouri native scored in his home state, stretching the Sharks' lead to 3-0 late in the second period. Kunin entered Saturday on an eight-game point drought, and he hadn't scored since a two-goal game versus the Flames on Feb. 15. The 26-year-old center is up to nine goals, 15 points, 91 shots on net, 144 hits, 49 blocked shots, 67 PIM and a minus-27 rating through 68 appearances in a middle-six role.

MARCH 31 • ROTOWIRE

Dishes two assists Kunin notched two assists, two shots on goal and a plus-2 rating in Saturday's 3-2 shootout loss to the Stars.

Impact Kunin set up goals by linemates William Eklund and Filip Zadina as the Sharks twice established one-goal leads. The 26-year-old Kunin has a pair of multi-point efforts over his last eight games, but he's gone scoreless in the other six contests in that span. He's seeing second-line minutes and has 12 points, 78 shots on net, 111 hits, 41 blocked shots, 53 PIM and a minus-19 rating over 54 appearances this season.

MARCH 3 • ROTOWIRE

Ready to rock Kunin (undisclosed) will play Saturday versus the Predators, Max Miller of The Hockey News reports.

Impact Kunin ultimately won't miss a game after being labeled questionable Friday. The 26-year-old will return to a second-line role and may also feature on the power play, while Kevin Labanc is set to exit the lineup.

FEBRUARY 25 • ROTOWIRE

Game-time call for Saturday Kunin is slated to be a game-time decision Saturday, coach David Quinn told Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now on Friday.

Impact Kunin has eight goals, 10 points, 53 PIM and 107 hits in 50 appearances in 2023-24. If he can't play Saturday, then Justin Bailey might remain in the lineup despite being projected as a healthy scratch.

FEBRUARY 23 • ROTOWIRE

Sharks host the Blue Jackets after Kunin's 2-goal game

The San Jose Sharks host the Columbus Blue Jackets after Luke Kunin's two-goal game against the Calgary Flames in the Sharks' 6-3 win

FEBRUARY 16 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tallies twice in win Kunin scored a pair of goals on four shots and added two PIM in Thursday's 6-3 win over the Flames.

Impact Kunin was credited with a power-play goal in the second period that Chris Tanev put into his own net. In the third, Kunin did the work himself on his second goal. The 26-year-old had posted just one goal over the prior 24 contests since he returned from an upper-body injury in December. Despite that lengthy cold spell, he's up to eight goals and two assists through 48 outings this season. The 26-year-old has added 71 shots on net, 97 hits, 53 PIM and a minus-16 rating while filling a middle-six role.

FEBRUARY 16 • ROTOWIRE

Set to play Tuesday Kunin (upper body) took line rushes during warmups, indicating he'll play Tuesday versus the Jets, Max Miller of The Hockey News reports.

Impact Kunin was initially expected to sit out this game, but he was activated from injured reserve Tuesday afternoon. The 26-year-old appears set to return in a fourth-line role, which would bump Jacob MacDonald from the lineup.

DECEMBER 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Activated from IR Kunin (upper body) was activated from injured reserve Tuesday.

Impact Kunin was not expected to play Tuesday against Winnipeg, but his removal from the IR list may change that. He hasn't played for the past five contests. Kunin has collected five goals, two assists, 40 shots on net, 20 blocked shots and 29 hits in 23 games this season.

DECEMBER 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Looking to play Friday Kunin (upper body) will not play against Winnipeg on Tuesday but could return for Friday's clash with Arizona, Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Impact Kunin will be shelved for his sixth consecutive contest due to his upper-body injury. Prior to getting hurt, the Missouri native was struggling offensively with just one point in his last six contests while recording just 1.6 shots per game over that stretch. Once Kunin is cleared to play, San Jose could go back to utilizing 12 forwards and six defensemen.

DECEMBER 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Placed on injured reserve The Sharks have put Kunin (upper body) on injured reserve Saturday, per the NHL team media site.

Impact Kunin was injured Thursday versus Boston and sat out the following night against New Jersey. The move is likely retroactive to Thursday, making Kunin eligible to return Dec. 7 in Detroit. Kunin has five goals and seven points in 23 games this season.

DECEMBER 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Unavailable Friday Kunin (upper body) will not play Friday against the Devils, CCurtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News reports.z

Impact Kunin was a late scratch Friday and it's unclear how severe his upper-body issue is. He has just seven points in 23 games this season, though five of those have come in his last nine appearances. Kevin Labanc will replace Kunin in Friday's lineup.

DECEMBER 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Nets winner on power play Kunin scored a power-play goal on three shots in Monday's 2-1 win over the Capitals.

Impact Kunin snapped his four-game point drought with his third-period tally, which was the game-winner. The 25-year-old got a turn as a top-six center with Tomas Hertl (middle body) out of the lineup. Kunin has done alright while floating around the lineup this year, racking up five goals, two assists, 40 shots on net, 27 hits, 18 blocked shots, 27 PIM and a minus-11 rating through 22 appearances. Two of his seven points have come with the man advantage.

NOVEMBER 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Luke Kunin scores go-ahead power play goal as Sharks beat Capitals 2-1

Luke Kunin scored a go-ahead power-play goal in the third period, Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 33 shots, and the San Jose Sharks beat the Washington Capitals 2-1

NOVEMBER 28, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Goal, assist in win Kunin scored a goal on three shots, added an assist and went plus-2 in Thursday's 5-1 win over the Blues.

Impact Kunin and Givani Smith set up each other's goals just 46 seconds apart in the second period. This was Kunin's third straight game with a goal, and it was also his first multi-point effort. He did that despite seeing just 11:52 of ice time on the fourth line, his second-lowest mark of the season. The 25-year-old forward has six points, 30 shots on net, 22 hits, 27 PIM, 13 blocked shots and a minus-8 rating through 17 outings.

NOVEMBER 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE