NASHVILLE, Tenn. _ When talking about his teammates who have won multiple Stanley Cups, Penguins defenseman Ron Hainsey noted that Chris Kunitz getting his fourth was "pretty high company."
In terms of recent history, though, Kunitz has no company at all.
With the Penguins' Cup-clinching 2-0 win in Game 6 Sunday night, he became the first player of the NHL's salary-cap era (since 2005) to win four Stanley Cups. He has three with the Penguins (2009, 2016 and 2017) and one with the Ducks (2007).
When the Penguins faced their challenges during their bid to repeat this season _ and they faced several _ Kunitz was always among the veteran presence that kept the team on course.
"I think the experience factor helps," Kunitz said. "You don't get rattled. You know that it's an emotional roller coaster to get to the finals. Once you're there you just have to believe in the process of what gets you here."
This year has also been a bit of a roller coaster for Kunitz, personally. He has ricocheted up and down the Penguins' lineup, playing with Sidney Crosby one game and on the fourth line the next.
His numbers took a hit, with career lows in goals (nine) and points (29).
But when the stakes were raised, Kunitz was there. His double-overtime score in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference final will go down as one of the most important goals in franchise history. He added six assists in the final against Nashville, including one on Patric Hornqvist's Cup-winner in the third period Sunday night.
"It's an unbelievable group to be a part of," Kunitz said. "We have so much fun being together. It's kind of sad that it's over, but it's nice that we can capture something like this and be part of a group forever together."
Kunitz is part of the five-man group that has been with the Penguins for all three of their recent Cup wins, joining Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and Marc-Andre Fleury.
He certainly knows what a rare accomplishment it is to win three _ including two back-to-back _ in this era.
In the moments after the Penguins' Game 6 win, though, Kunitz was mostly just interested in savoring this time with his teammates and his family.
"That's not for us to compare ourselves," he said. "We know it was a tough journey, and it's obviously hard-fought. You have to go out and earn it every single night. I think our guys bought in right when we got to the playoffs."
Kunitz had a special reason to soak in Sunday night's celebration, too, as it could be his last time in a Penguins uniform. His contract is up, and he'll be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
There's a chance the Penguins could bring him back, but he also could start next year seeking Stanley Cup No. 5 in another city. Or, at 37, Kunitz could opt to call it a career.
Whether he's with the Penguins, Kunitz was bullish on their chances of doing this celebration thing again before Crosby's and Malkin's careers are over.
"Not bad hockey players, yeah," Kunitz said of his two longtime teammates. "And a couple of young ones that are getting there. A goaltender who's won two Stanley Cups as a rookie. Those things are pretty impressive."
If Kunitz does leave, the Penguins will lose a valuable veteran presence in their locker room. In his nine years in Pittsburgh, he has been an integral part of a team that has thrust itself into the conversation of all-time greats.
By definition, Kunitz has to be considered one of the best winners in recent NHL history.
"To speak of legacies and things like that, that's not our job," he said. "We have to just go out there and know that we did a good job of coming to the rink every single night."
Kunitz, though, is the only player of this era who has had four trips to the rink end with him lifting the Stanley Cup.
