Kunin, a forward born in Chesterfield, Missouri, was chosen by the Minnesota Wild with the No. 15 pick in the 2016 NHL Draft.

He had to overcome being diagnosed with Type I diabetes while in the sixth grade. After attending Whitfield School in Missouri for one year, he joined the USA Hockey National Team Development Program and graduated from high school in three years.

Kunin played two seasons at the University of Wisconsin. His nine goals in 2015-16 were third among NCAA freshmen. The following season, he became the second sophomore captain in school history and the first since Mike Eaves 40 years earlier. Kunin led the Badgers with 22 goals and 38 points in 35 games, to make the All-Big Ten Second Team.

His college career ended when he signed a three-year contract with the Wild on March 23, 2017, and he scored his first NHL goal in a 6-4 win against the New York Islanders on Oct. 26, 2017, becoming the first player in Wild history to do so while shorthanded.

Kunin was sent back to the American Hockey League on Oct. 29. He represented Iowa at the 2018 AHL All-Star Game and was recalled by Minnesota on Feb. 28, 2018. However, his season ended with a torn ACL in his left knee sustained in a game against the Detroit Red Wings on March 4.

Injuries slowed Kunin in 2018-19, but he became a regular in 2019-20 and had NHL career highs in goals, assists and points.

NOTES & TRANSACTIONS

• Big Ten All-Rookie Team (2016)
• NCAA West Second All-American Team (2017)
• Traded to Nashville by Minnesota with a 4th-round pick in 2020 NHL Draft for Nick Bonino, a 2nd-round pick in 2020 NHL Draft and 3rd-round pick in 2020 NHL Draft, October 7, 2020.
• Traded to San Jose by Nashville for John Leonard and a 3rd-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, July 8, 2022.