Chris Kunitz, an unrestricted free agent until Tuesday, will remain with the Blackhawks organization in 2019-20 — as a player development adviser.
Instead of giving his playing career one more try, the 39-year-old forward has retired and joined the Hawks’ coaching staff after tallying 10 points in 56 games last season. It is hardly shocking news, considering that Kunitz was seen among the staff watching over the prospects at development camp two weeks ago.
Kunitz will be most remembered for his days with the Penguins, where he won three Stanley Cups in 2009, 2016 and 2017. He was also part of the Ducks’ championship run in 2007.
Initially an undrafted free agent, Kunitz hit the 40-point plateau in 10 of his first 11 full seasons in the NHL, developing a reputation as one of the best complementary forwards in the league.
“I feel very fortunate to have been a part of four amazing organizations over the last 15 years,” he said in a press release Tuesday. “I’d like to sincerely thank the Anaheim Ducks, the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Chicago Blackhawks. Every one of these organizations was the ultimate example, not only to me, but to my children, on what true professionalism should be.”
Kunitz was clearly on the back end of his career last season, his first and only in Chicago, but made his veteran leadership felt. He was honored in February when he played his 1,000th career game; he finished at 1,022.
The Saskatchewan native will now help out on the coaching side at both the NHL and AHL levels. He’ll join a number of other recently retired players in the Hawks’ staff, from Jeremy Colliton to Brian Campbell to Mark Eaton.
“While coaching him last year, I recognized what an asset he would be for our staff and the organization,” Colliton said in the release. “I’m very pleased to have him a part of our coaching group, and also use him as a development resource for our young players in Rockford.”
