Kunitz title chase with Lightning goes through former boss

TAMPA -- The stall for Chris Kunitz sits between rookie Anthony Cirelli and captain Steven Stamkos within the Tampa Bay Lightning locker room at Amalie Arena.
Not too surprising, because the 38-year-old forward has plenty to impart to players of all ages as a veteran of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

He is the fifth-oldest player participating in the 2018 postseason, behind Zdeno Chara of the Boston Bruins, Matt Cullen of the Minnesota Wild, Jason Chimera of the Anaheim Ducks and Patrick Marleau of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and the only one to have his name on the Stanley Cup four times, once with the Anaheim Ducks (2007) and three times with the Pittsburgh Penguins (2009, 2016, 2017).
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Kunitz signed a one-year contract with the Lightning on July 1, hoping to win another championship after nine seasons with the Penguins. It was a run that began when Ray Shero, then general manager of the Penguins, acquired Kunitz in a trade with the Ducks for defenseman Ryan Whitney on Feb. 26, 2009.
Shero is now the general manager of the Devils, named to that position May 4, 2015.
Kunitz will play his 166th postseason game on Saturday in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference First Round at Amalie Arena (3 p.m. ET; NBC, NBCSN, SN360, TVAS2) and the Lightning will be looking to eliminate the Devils from the best-of-7 series, ending their first appearance in six seasons.
Kunitz said he sees similarities between the 2018 Devils and the first title team he played for in Pittsburgh. And though he is happy for his former GM, the competitor in him relishes the opportunity to end this series and advance one step closer to another championship.
"Ray always brought high-character players into Pittsburgh when I was there, and he, Tom Fitzgerald and John Hynes have that background of being in Pittsburgh together," Kunitz said. "It was a great place to work because they made it enjoyable. You went out, worked hard, and they respected you as players and people."
Fitzgerald, now the Devils assistant general manager, won the Stanley Cup with the Penguins as director of player development in 2009. Hynes, the Devils coach, was coach of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Penguins, from 2010-15.
"I think Ray has done a great job of turning New Jersey around quickly; they have the skilled players to make them a better team, but he's also added guys like Taylor Hall and Sami Vatanen in trades," Kunitz said.

Hall scored 39 goals this season in a MVP-worthy performance. Vatanen, obtained for Adam Henrique in a trade with the Ducks, on Nov. 30, 2017, is questionable for Game 5; he led New Jersey in average ice time per game in the regular season (22:45).
Shero was GM of the Penguins from 2006-07 to 2013-14, helping them reach the playoffs each season, the Eastern Conference Final three times and the Stanley Cup Final twice.
When Shero acquired Kunitz, he was in the market for a wing to play alongside Sidney Crosby.
"Chris Kunitz is one of my favorite people I've ever encountered," Shero said. "I have so much respect for Chris and he has a great family. It was nice to see him win a fourth Cup last season with the Penguins and play a big role."
Kunitz had 11 points (two goals, nine assists) in 20 postseason games. The goasl, including the series winner in double overtime, came in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Ottawa Senators.
Pittsburgh's trade for Kunitz came six days before the 2009 NHL Trade Deadline. At the time, the Penguins were 10th in the Eastern Conference with 66 points, three fewer than eighth-place Buffalo.
They finished the season fourth in the East with 99 points and won the Stanley Cup. Kunitz had 18 points (seven goals, 11 assists) in 20 regular-season games and contributed one goal and 13 assists in 24 playoff games.
"I didn't know much about Ray until I got to Pittsburgh but you quickly find out that he's a family-first guy who cares about you as a player," Kunitz said. "He knows your kids' names and is going to say hi to your wife every time he sees her. He makes it feel like a true family within the whole organization and it's something I think I'll always remember and take with me.
"He made players feel so comfortable to be able to go to work every day, but also knew if there's something going on at home, that's the most important thing."

Lightning coach Jon Cooper said he sees why Kunitz has been such a coveted player and why his resume is so impressive.
"It's no surprise that winning has followed him wherever he's gone because he's the consummate professional; he finds a way to rattle cages," Cooper said.
Kunitz wants to play in the NHL for a few more seasons. He had 29 points (13 goals, 16 assists) in 82 games playing a middle-six role for the Lightning this season, and has played a limited role in postseason, averaging 7:49 per game, the least among Tampa Bay forwards.
"I know the game is getting a lot younger, but you've seen a few guys who have been able to extend their careers," Kunitz said. "I feel like I can go out there and impact the game. Maybe it's not in the form of 65-70 points, but with leadership, giving good minutes when called upon, and filling in when needed."
Kunitz has 92 points (27 goals, 65 assists) in 165 NHL playoff games.
"Hopefully we can have a nice long run here in the playoffs and I can show some worth for what I can do, but I'll take it one year at a time for sure," Kunitz said. "The best thing about hockey is building those championship teams because it's so vivid in your mind of how much fun you had, and it provides a memorable timeline of the path in your career."