Luke Kunin News

The Predators have acquired Luke Kunin and a 2020 fourth-round pick (No.101 overall) from the Wild for Nick Bonino, a 2020 second-round pick (No.37 overall) and a 2020 third-round pick (No.70 overall).

Kunin is a pending RFA, who is projected to sign a contract in the range of $3.25M AAV, which would be $850K savings from Nick Bonino's $4.1M AAV cap hit. Kunin is coming off of the best season of his young career, scoring 15 goals with 16 assists (31 points) in 63 games and has even more upside in Nashville, where he'll be surrounded by more top-end talent.

Luke Kunin
Kunin (upper-body) will return to the Wild lineup on Tuesday.

Kunin has missed the last five games with an upper-body injury but is expected to replace Gerald Mayhew in the lineup on Tuesday. It's unclear how the Wild's lines will shake out with this change but Kunin re-enters the lineup with 11 points (4G / 7A) in his last 19 games.

Luke Kunin
Kunin is expected to miss 10-to-14 days with an upper-body injury.

Kunin played 5:20 TOI in Edmonton on Friday but did not return to the bench for the second period. With Kunin out for at least one week, Gerald Mayhew was recalled prior to Sunday's game, but Ryan Donato will most likely replace him in the lineup.

Luke Kunin
Kunin (upper-body) will return to the Wild lineup on Thursday.

Kunin missed the last two games with an upper-body injury but will replace Joel Eriksson Ek (lower-body) in the lineup tomorrow. Kunin will skate on the second line with Jason Zucker and Ryan Donato and has 14 points (5G / 9A) in 37 games this season.

Luke Kunin
Kunin is questionable for Friday due to an “upper-body” injury.

Kunin left Thursday’s game with an upper-body injury but head coach Bruce Boudreau added that he was “a little woozy,” which suggests that it is a head-related injury. If Kunin can’t play, Joel Eriksson Ek will likely move to the second line and Jordan Greenway will likely shift to centre on the third line.

Luke Kunin
The Wild have recalled Luke Kunin from Iowa (AHL).

Kunin has split his 2018-19 campaign between the AHL and NHL. The 2016 first-round pick (No.15 overall) has five points (1G / 4A) in 21 games with Minnesota and 16 points (9G / 7A) in 25 games with Iowa. Kunin will likely draw onto the third line on Tuesday with Pontus Aberg injured.

Luke Kunin
The Wild have recalled Luke Kunin from Iowa (AHL).

Kunin has spent the last two-plus months in Iowa working his way back from knee surgery and an injury to Mikko Koivu has finally opened the door for an NHL return. The 2016 No.15 overall pick has registered 15 points (8G / 7A) in 21 games with Iowa this season.

Luke Kunin
Kunin will undergo surgery to repair a torn ACL; will be sidelined for 6-8 months.

Kunin tore his ACL in Sunday’s game against the Red Wings and his season is over. This is a tough break for the former first-round pick (No.15 overall in 2016) who appeared to have earned a role with the Wild down the stretch after picking up 19 points (10G / 9A) in 36 games with Iowa (AHL).

Luke Kunin
The Wild recalled Luke Kunin from Iowa (AHL).

Kunin has appeared in the last three games with the Wild, but was likely sent down for salary cap purposes. Kunin recorded two assists in their most recent game in Calgary and is expected to be back in the lineup tonight vs. the Canucks.

Luke Kunin
The Wild have recalled Luke Kunin from Iowa (AHL).

Kunin, 19, was the No.15 overall pick in the 2016 NHL draft and comes up looking to make his NHL debut this weekend. Kunin turned pro at the end of last season after two years at the University of Wisconsin. In 14 AHL games, Kunin has six goals and four assists (10 points).

Luke Kunin