The Florida Panthers are not done tinkering with their roster just yet. This afternoon, general manager Bill Zito announced that he signed Luke Kunin to a one-year deal to play in Sunrise. This is a somewhat surprising move for Florida, considering that it felt as if they were done adding players to the roster.
However, everyone was proven wrong with this acquisition. Kunin took forever to sign with a team and was one of the top remaining free agents on the open market. The native of Chesterfield, Missouri, will turn 28 years old in December and is still in the prime of his career.
In his eight-year career, Kunin has played for four different teams before joining the Panthers. The former first-round pick began his career with the Minnesota Wild. After three seasons there, he joined the Predators for a two-year run.
Then he moved to San Jose and spent the last two and a half seasons with the moribund Sharks. At the trade deadline, Kunin was flipped to Columbus, where he enjoyed a cup of coffee in 12 games with the Blue Jackets. He didn't register a point at that time.
This is a huge steal for the Florida Panthers. They are getting a versatile skater to add to their forward group. The six-footer is a natural centerman, but can also play the wing. He has a right-handed shot, which is something Florida needs. Only three regulars in the forward group have right-handed shots.
Kunin has also reached double-digit goal-scoring seasons in five of his eight NHL years. He can add a bit more scoring depth to the lineup as a result. The Panthers are getting more than that, though. This signing speaks testament to the type of player that Zito likes to bring in.
Over the last few years, Florida has established itself as a gritty, physical, and tough squad. Whether you look at the top players like Sam Bennett & Matthew Tkachuk, or the grinders such as Jonah Gadjovich and Dmitry Kulikov, all these guys can fight and play with chipiness.
Luke Kunin, signed 1x0.8M by FLA, is a physical hockey player who crashes the net and wore an "A" for the Sharks last year. pic.twitter.com/ZOJ7irWKoM
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) August 22, 2025
Those are the same qualities that Luke Kunin has in his game. He's gritty, plays hard all the time, and is a smart player in his own zone. He has already racked up well over 800 hits over the course of his career. Last season, he accumulated 187 hits alone. He can also be a vital piece to the team's penalty kill.
Luke Kunin is just a hard-nosed player, a guy who will contribute to getting the dirty work done. He's a great fit for the Panthers, and this is a win-win for both sides. The Panthers added more depth with a guy who matches their style of play.
Luke Kunin now has his best chance to win a Stanley Cup with a team that isn't slowing down any time soon. This is a low-risk, high-reward move for the Panthers. While he's not a big name, Luke Kunin can provide elements that have been common with the team.
He can be nothing but a positive contributor. Several players were clear after they won the Stanley Cup again last summer that new blood was essential to their success. Last year, it was the arrivals of Nate Schmidt in free agency, Seth Jones, as well as Brad Marchand at the deadline. Now, Kunin is a part of the new blood that comes in to help Florida win a third straight Stanley Cup.