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2016 NHL Draft Profile: University of Wisconsin Center, Luke Kunin

Name: Luke Kunin

2015/16 Team: University of Wisconsin (NCAA)

Stats: 34GP, 19 goals, 13 assists, 32 points, 34PIMs, -9

Future Consideration Ranking: 20th

NHL Comparable Player: Joe Pavelski

Luke Kunin spent last year with the University of Wisconsin finishing as their top scorer as a first year rookie. Kunin has a reputation for having off the chart hockey IQ and being an incredibly good playmaker. He has a knack of making the right play.

Complementing his playmaking is his deceiving good shot often fooling goalies who aren’t expecting the puck to be released so quickly. He also has shown a lot of skill in tipping the puck out front, showing off his good hand eye coordination.

Kunin is also a good defensively, coming back to help out his defenseman. He has a reputation for being a two way forward but his offensive skills clearly outweigh his defensive ones.

At 6’0″, 190lbs, he could be bigger but he isn’t a small player by any means. Especially when compared to other forwards who should be available at this point in the draft like Alex DeBrincat and Vitali Abramov.

On the downside scouts have said that Kunin needs to bulk up to make it in the NHL and improve his skating. He lacks the upper body strength and his skating is slow at the first couple of steps. Improving his skating and becoming stronger will make the chance of him being a top six forward much more likely.

He likely has at least another year and more likely two in the NCAA where he will be able to refine his game and potentially become a top six forward in the NHL.

Kunin is a solid player with a lot of all round talent, but will the Dallas Stars select him at 25th if he is still on the board?

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