{{Short description|Canadian ice hockey player (born 1979)}} {{Use Canadian English|date=July 2015}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2015}} {{Infobox ice hockey player | image = Chris Kunitz 2018-05-21 1.jpg | image_size = 230px | caption = Kunitz with the Tampa Bay Lightning in May 2018 | played_for = Anaheim Ducks<br>Atlanta Thrashers<br>Pittsburgh Penguins<br>Tampa Bay Lightning<br>Chicago Blackhawks | position = Left wing | shoots = Left | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 1 | weight_lb = 188 | ntl_team = CAN | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|9|26}} | birth_place = Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada | draft = Undrafted | career_start = 2003 | career_end = 2019 | medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry|{{ih|CAN}}}} {{MedalSport|Men's ice hockey}} {{MedalCompetition | Olympic Games}} {{MedalGold| 2014 Sochi|}} {{MedalCompetition|World Championships}} {{MedalSilver|2008 Canada |}} | show-medals = yes }} '''Christopher Kunitz''' (born September 26, 1979) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger who played in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played for the Anaheim Ducks (where he won his first Stanley Cup in 2007), Atlanta Thrashers, the Pittsburgh Penguins (where he won his second, third and fourth Stanley Cup in 2009, 2016 and 2017), Tampa Bay Lightning and Chicago Blackhawks.

Internationally, Kunitz won a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2014 Winter Olympics.

==Playing career==

===College and junior=== Kunitz played Junior A in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) with the Melville Millionaires for two seasons before joining the NCAA college ranks with the Ferris State Bulldogs in 1999–00. After a 79-point campaign in his senior year, he was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award in 2003 (given to Peter Sejna), the same year Ferris State made it to the Division I Regional Finals, just missing out on the Frozen Four. He was part of the first Ferris State team to make an NCAA Tournament appearance (now joined by the 2011–2012, 2013–14, 2015-16 squads).<ref name = fstate>{{cite web | url=http://www.ferris.edu/htmls/sports/hockey/archives/0203news/kunitzhobeyfinalist.htm | title=Ferris State Press Release | access-date=January 8, 2007 | archive-date=February 7, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207140827/http://www.ferris.edu/htmls/sports/hockey/archives/0203news/kunitzhobeyfinalist.htm | url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Professional=== ====Anaheim Ducks, brief stint in Atlanta and return to Anaheim==== Kunitz was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim on April 1, 2003.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ducks Sign Hobey Baker Finalist Chris Kunitz |url=http://www.mightyducks.com/PressBox/PressBox2.asp?PressBoxID=642 |website=Anaheim Mighty Ducks |access-date=December 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030820132120/http://www.mightyducks.com/PressBox/PressBox2.asp?PressBoxID=642 |archive-date=August 20, 2003 |date=April 1, 2003}}</ref> He split his professional rookie season between Anaheim and their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks. After spending the 2004–05 NHL lock-out with Cincinnati, he was picked up on waivers by the Atlanta Thrashers in 2005–06.<ref name="waivers">{{cite web |title=Mighty Ducks Claim Chris Kunitz Off Waivers |url=http://mightyducks.com/press/release/article.php?dir=200510&id=1087 |website=Anaheim Mighty Ducks |access-date=December 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051224083551/http://mightyducks.com/press/release/article.php?dir=200510&id=1087 |archive-date=December 24, 2005 |date=October 18, 2005}}</ref> Two weeks later, however, he was re-claimed off waivers by the Ducks and went on to play 67 games with them, scoring 19 goals and adding 22 assists for 41 points, surpassing Paul Kariya's club record 39-point rookie season in 1994–95 (Kunitz still qualified as a first-year player because he did not play the minimum required games with Anaheim in 2003–04 to register as his NHL rookie season; the record was broken the following season by Dustin Penner's 45 points).<ref name="waivers"/>

[[File:Roberto Luongo and Chris Kunitz.jpg|thumb|Kunitz at the lip of Roberto Luongo's crease in September 2006]] In the 2006–07 NHL season, Kunitz improved to 25 goals and 60 points. He went on to help the Ducks advance through the playoffs, past the Minnesota Wild, Vancouver Canucks, and Detroit Red Wings, en route to a Final victory against the Ottawa Senators to capture both his and the franchise's first Stanley Cup championship. Kunitz had been injured during the semi-finals against the Red Wings, but returned late in the Stanley Cup Final against Ottawa to help clinch the championship in game five.

thumb|upright|Kunitz in June 2017. He hoisted the Stanley Cup for the fourth time in 2017. The next season, in 2007–08, Kunitz was named one of the team's alternate captains, his first time with the Ducks and his professional career. In regards to Kunitz' new position, Ducks head coach Randy Carlyle explained, "Rob Niedermayer was an alternate last year and did a fine job, and we thought it was important to involve our younger players in the leadership role. Chris Kunitz fit that role."<ref>{{cite web |title=Anaheim Ducks name Chris Pronger Team Captain |url=http://duckswire.blogspot.com/2007/09/anaheim-ducks-name-chris-pronger-team.html |website=Ducks Wire |access-date=28 September 2007|date=September 28, 2007 }}</ref> Kunitz's production dipped to 50 points that season.

====Pittsburgh Penguins==== In the midst of another slow season in 2008–09, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins along with prospect Eric Tangradi for defenceman Ryan Whitney. The move was also precipitated by a need for secondary scoring on the Penguins behind Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. During the 2009 playoffs, he recorded 1 goal and 13 assists as the Pittsburgh Penguins won the Stanley Cup in a rematch of the previous year's Stanley Cup Final against the Detroit Red Wings, giving Kunitz his second championship in three years.

On November 6, 2010, Kunitz played his 400th career game and recorded a goal in that game against the Phoenix Coyotes. On March 15, 2016, he played his 800th career game and recorded a goal against the New York Islanders.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kunitz no Hossa, but still helps the Pens|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/columns/story?columnist=burnside_scott&id=3937237|access-date=February 26, 2009|date=February 26, 2009|publisher=ESPN}}</ref> In the 2016 Playoffs, he recorded 4 goals and 8 assists for 12 points, as the Penguins went to defeat the San Jose Sharks in six games in 2016. It would be Kunitz's third Stanley Cup of his career, his second with the Pens. Since 2010, he has been a regular member of the Penguins' top lines with Evgeni Malkin and/or Sidney Crosby. On May 25, 2017, Kunitz recorded the last career playoff goal of his career when he scored in double overtime in game seven of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Ottawa Senators; he became the oldest player to score a game seven playoff series winning goal, at age 37. The Penguins faced off against the Nashville Predators in the 2017 Finals, defeating them in six games to successfully defend the Stanley Cup, with Kunitz assisting on the series-winning goal. This marked Kunitz's fourth Stanley Cup of his career, and his third as a member of the Penguins.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/penguins/news/pens-cup-championship-notes/c-289897846|title=2017 Stanley Cup Championship Notes|website=NHL.com|date=June 12, 2017 |language=en-US|access-date=2018-03-24}}</ref>

====Tampa Bay Lightning==== On July 1, 2017, Kunitz left the Penguins as a free agent and signed a one-year, $2 million, contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/lightning/news/lightning-sign-chris-kunitz/c-290261148|title=Kunitz signs with Lightning|website= National Hockey League |date=2017-07-01|access-date=2017-07-01}}</ref> The Lightning announced through its social media account that Kunitz would wear the #14.<ref>{{Cite tweet |user=TBLightning |number=887420162017607680 |date = 18 July 2017 |title=Chris Kunitz will wear No. 14 with the #Bolts. .}}</ref> Kunitz had previously worn the number with the Penguins and the Ducks. Kunitz recorded 13 goals and 29 points during the season, but just one assist in the playoffs as the Lightning lost in the Eastern Conference Final to the eventual champion Washington Capitals in 7 games.

====Chicago Blackhawks==== thumb|upright|Kunitz with the Blackhawks in January 2019 On July 1, 2018, Kunitz signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Chicago Blackhawks. He played 56 games and had 5 goals and 10 points.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/blackhawks/news/the-blackhawks-announced-that-they-have-agreed-to-terms-with-chris-kunitz-cam-ward-and-brandon-manning/c-299365436 | title = Blackhawks agree to terms with three | publisher = Chicago Blackhawks | date = 2018-07-01 | access-date = 2018-07-01}}</ref>

On July 30, 2019, Kunitz announced his retirement from professional hockey after 15 seasons. He joined the Blackhawks' organization as a player development adviser as well as the coaching staff of their American League affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs.<ref>{{cite web |title=RELEASE: Chris Kunitz to join Blackhawks coaching staff |url=https://www.nhl.com/blackhawks/news/release-chris-kunitz-to-join-blackhawks-coaching-staff/c-308389214 |website=Chicago Blackhawks |date=July 30, 2019 |access-date=July 30, 2019}}</ref>

==International play== Kunitz made his international hockey debut for Team Canada at the 2008 World Hockey Championships.<ref name = "Ducks1">{{cite web | url=http://ducks.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=361714 | title=Getzlaf, Kunitz Named to Team Canada | publisher = Anaheim Ducks | date = 2008-05-02 | access-date = 2008-05-02}}</ref> He contributed 7 points in 9 games, helping Canada to a silver medal. On January 7, 2014, he was named to the 2014 Canadian Olympic Hockey Team.

==Personal life== Kunitz attended Michael A. Riffel High School in northwest Regina, graduating in 1997. Ten years after his graduation, he brought the Stanley Cup back to Riffel in July 2007 when he had his day with the trophy. He also took the Stanley Cup back to his college town (Big Rapids, Michigan) on the same day.<ref name=hhof>{{cite web | url = http://www.hhof.com/html/exSCJ07_20.shtml | title = Stanley Cup Journal | publisher = Hockey Hall of Fame | date = 2007-08-07 | access-date = 2007-08-07 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110525203242/http://www.hhof.com/html/exSCJ07_20.shtml | archive-date = May 25, 2011 | df = mdy-all }}</ref> On August 11, 2009, Kunitz brought the trophy back to Regina and had a larger celebration in the city's downtown. Kunitz admitted that during his first visit, he had a low-key celebration at Riffel as a result of teammate Ryan Getzlaf's profile.

Kunitz married Chicago-native Maureen Pfeiffer in July 2008. The couple reside with their three children in Chicago. Kunitz and his family lived in the Bridgeville area of Pittsburgh during his tenure with the Penguins.<ref name=MeetTheDucks>{{cite web | url = http://www.rootzoo.com/articles/view/NHL-Hockey/Anaheim-Ducks/Meet-the-Ducks-Part-2_9383 | title = Meet the Ducks! (Part 2) | website = rootzoo.com | date = 2008-07-23 | access-date = 2008-07-23 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101130234227/http://rootzoo.com/articles/view/NHL-Hockey/Anaheim-Ducks/Meet-the-Ducks-Part-2_9383 | archive-date = November 30, 2010 | df = mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://penguins.nhl.com/v2/ext/pdf/1011_PittsburghPenguins-MediaGuide.pdf | title = Pittsburgh Penguins 2010 Media Guide | publisher = Pittsburgh Penguins | date = October 1, 2010 | access-date = October 1, 2010 | archive-date = April 6, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120406162520/http://penguins.nhl.com/v2/ext/pdf/1011_PittsburghPenguins-MediaGuide.pdf | url-status = dead }}</ref> {{Citation needed|date=October 2011}}

Kunitz earned a degree in marketing and business from Ferris State University.

==Career statistics== [[File:Sidney Crosby and Chris Kunitz with Prince of Wales Trophy 2017-05-25 1.jpg|thumb|Kunitz with Sidney Crosby receiving the Prince of Wales Trophy in 2017. Kunitz scored the series winning goal in the second overtime of game seven to send the Penguins to the 2017 Stanley Cup Final.]]

===Regular season and playoffs=== {| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em;" |- style="background:#e0e0e0;" ! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" | &nbsp; ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | &nbsp; ! colspan="5" | Regular&nbsp;season ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | &nbsp; ! colspan="5" | Playoffs |- style="background:#e0e0e0;" ! Season ! Team ! League ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM |- | 1996–97 | Yorkton Mallers AAA | SMHL | 64 | 38 | 38 | 76 | 233 | — | — | — | — | — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1997–98 | Melville Millionaires | SJHL | 60 | 30 | 27 | 57 | 151 | — | — | — | — | — |- | 1998–99 | Melville Millionaires | SJHL | 63 | 57 | 32 | 89 | 222 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 19 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1999–2000 | Ferris State Bulldogs | CCHA | 38 | 20 | 9 | 29 | 70 | — | — | — | — | — |- | 2000–01 | Ferris State Bulldogs | CCHA | 37 | 16 | 13 | 29 | 81 | — | — | — | — | — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2001–02 | Ferris State Bulldogs | CCHA | 35 | 28 | 10 | 38 | 68 | — | — | — | — | — |- | 2002–03 | Ferris State Bulldogs | CCHA | 42 | 35 | 44 | 79 | 56 | — | — | — | — | — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2003–04 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | NHL | 21 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — |- | 2003–04 | Cincinnati Mighty Ducks | AHL | 59 | 19 | 25 | 44 | 101 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 24 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2004–05 | Cincinnati Mighty Ducks | AHL | 54 | 22 | 17 | 39 | 71 | 12 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 20 |- | 2005–06 | Atlanta Thrashers | NHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2005–06 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | NHL | 67 | 19 | 22 | 41 | 69 | 16 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 8 |- | 2005–06 | Portland Pirates | AHL | 5 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2006–07 | Anaheim Ducks | NHL | 81 | 25 | 35 | 60 | 81 | 13 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 19 |- | 2007–08 | Anaheim Ducks | NHL | 82 | 21 | 29 | 50 | 80 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2008–09 | Anaheim Ducks | NHL | 62 | 16 | 19 | 35 | 55 | — | — | — | — | — |- | 2008–09 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 20 | 7 | 11 | 18 | 16 | 24 | 1 | 13 | 14 | 19 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2009–10 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 50 | 13 | 19 | 32 | 39 | 13 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 8 |- | 2010–11 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 66 | 23 | 25 | 48 | 47 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2011–12 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 82 | 26 | 35 | 61 | 49 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 |- | {{NHL Year|2012}} | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 48 | 22 | 30 | 52 | 39 | 15 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 6 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | {{NHL Year|2013}} | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 78 | 35 | 33 | 68 | 66 | 13 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 16 |- | {{NHL Year|2014}} | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 74 | 17 | 23 | 40 | 56 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | {{NHL Year|2015}} | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 80 | 17 | 23 | 40 | 41 | 24 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 15 |- | {{NHL Year|2016}} | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 71 | 9 | 20 | 29 | 36 | 20 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 27 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | {{NHL Year|2017}} | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 82 | 13 | 16 | 29 | 35 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 16 |- | 2018–19 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 56 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 23 | — | — | — | — | — |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" | NHL totals ! 1,022 ! 268 ! 351 ! 619 ! 746 ! 178 ! 27 ! 66 ! 93 ! 164 |}

===International=== {| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:40em" |- ALIGN="centre" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Year ! Team ! Event ! Result ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | &nbsp; ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM |- | 2008 | Canada | WC | {{silver2}} | 9 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 4 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2014 | Canada | OG | {{gold1}} | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 |- |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan=4 | Senior totals ! 15 ! 3 ! 5 ! 8 ! 10 |}

==Awards and honours== {| class="wikitable" ! Awards ! Year ! |- ! colspan="3"|College |- | All-CCHA First Team | 2001–02 | <ref name = CHHA>{{cite news|title=All-CCHA Teams|url=http://www.augenblick.org/chha/ccha_all.html|publisher=College Hockey Historical Archives|access-date=July 27, 2013}}</ref> |- | All-CCHA First Team | 2002–03 | <ref name="CHHA"/> |- | AHCA West First-Team All-American | 2002–03 | |- | CCHA All-Tournament Team | 2003 | <ref name = media>{{cite news|title=2012–13 CCHA Media Guide|url=http://issuu.com/cchahockey/docs/2012-13_ccha_media_guide_final_2a_compressed#|publisher=ISSUU.com|access-date=April 23, 2014}}</ref> |- ! colspan="3"|NHL |- | Stanley Cup champion | 2007, 2009, 2016, 2017 | <ref name = "Stanley">{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/pit-vs-sjs/2016/06/12/2015030416|title=Penguins win Stanley Cup, defeat Sharks in game six|publisher=National Hockey League | date = 2016-06-12 | access-date = 2016-06-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web| url = http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/penguins-repeat-stanley-cup-champions-1.4156028 | title = Penguins repeat as Stanley Cup champions | publisher = Canadian Broadcasting Corporation | date = 2017-06-11 | access-date = 2017-06-11}}</ref> |- | First All-Star Team | 2013 | |}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{Ice hockey stats}} {{S-start}} {{s-ach}} {{succession box | before = Ryan Miller | title = CCHA Player of the Year| years = 2002–03| after = Derek Edwardson}} {{end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kunitz, Chris}} Category:1979 births Category:Living people Category:Anaheim Ducks players Category:Atlanta Thrashers players Category:Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in the United States Category:Canadian ice hockey left wingers Category:Chicago Blackhawks players Category:Ferris State Bulldogs men's ice hockey players Category:Ice hockey people from Regina, Saskatchewan Category:Ice hockey players at the 2014 Winter Olympics Category:Medalists at the 2014 Winter Olympics Category:Melville Millionaires players Category:Mighty Ducks of Anaheim players Category:Olympic gold medalists for Canada Category:Olympic ice hockey players for Canada Category:Olympic medalists in ice hockey Category:Pittsburgh Penguins players Category:Stanley Cup champions Category:Undrafted National Hockey League players Category:AHCA Division I men's ice hockey All-Americans