With one day left before the NHL trade deadline, the San Jose Sharks will reportedly hold Luke Kunin out of their lineup Thursday for their game against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena in Denver.
Kunin, 27, signed a one-year, $2.75 million contract with the Sharks last offseason and is a pending unrestricted free agent. Chris Johnston of TSN and The Athletic first reported that Kunin would not play against the Avalanche as the Sharks manage one of their remaining moveable assets before the NHL trade deadline on Friday at noon (PST).
Now in his third year with the Sharks, Kunin has 18 points in 63 games this season. As one of the Sharks’ top penalty killers, the blue-collar Kunin has mainly been used as a middle six forward this season, averaging over 15 minutes in ice time per game.
Asked late last month about the possibility of being traded, Kunin, an alternate captain, said, “I’m focused on today. I’m focused on getting better in practice and having a good day here, and whatever tomorrow brings, it brings, and we’ll deal with it then.”
Also, on Thursday, forward Nikolai Kovalenko was activated off of injured reserve and is eligible to play against the Avalanche as the Sharks look for their third straight victory. Kovalenko last played on Jan. 30 against the Seattle Kraken and has missed the last nine games with an upper body injury.
Kovalenko and goalie Alexandar Georgiev were acquired by the Sharks from the Avalanche as part of the December deal that sent Mackenzie Blackwood to Colorado. In 17 games with the Sharks, Kovalenko has one goal and seven assists.
Kunin was acquired by the Sharks in July 2022 in a deal that sent a 2023 third round draft pick and forward John Leonard to the Nashville Predators. Kunin was subsequently signed to a two-year, $5.5 million contract.
On Tuesday, the Sharks kept goalie Vitek Vanecek from playing when they faced the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center. Vanecek, another pending unrestricted free agent, backed up Alexandar Georgiev against the Sabres and was traded to the Florida Panthers on Wednesday for forward Patrick Giles.
Earlier Thursday, the Sharks and Panthers completed another trade, as center Nico Sturm and a 2027 seventh-round selection were sent to Florida for a 2026 fourth round pick.
Please check back for updates to this developing story.
