Luke Kunin Is Latest Center Linked to Maple Leafs

Friday, January 24, 2025 ,


The Toronto Maple Leafs are in the market for a center. This, we all know. Just yesterday, we presented a list of the top 10 center trade targets for Toronto, as ranked by Jonas Siegel and Chris Johnston of The Athletic. 

But now we get another solid name to add to the list, another rental, in the form of San Jose Sharks bottom-six pivot Luke Kunin. 

Insider Elliotte Friedman made the suggestion on his 32 Thoughts podcast. 

That's the kind of player I think (head coach Craig) Berube and (GM Brad) Treliving would like.

Elliotte says there's no question they are going to try add another center/forward and he feels Kunin could be the one.

The 27-year-old is on a one-year, $2.75 million deal, set to be a UFA, and is an ideal rental for the Leafs, a physical center who can add some secondary scoring, as he has double-digit goals in five of the last six seasons now.

Kunin has found the net 11 times this year, and is on pace to set a career-high in that category.

The 6-foot, 200-pounder is also not afraid to play a physical game. He has a 223-hit season on his resume from a few years back, and with 128 so far, is on pace for another 200-hit campaign this time around. And as we saw Thursday night, Kunin has no fear. 

In fact, it was that fight that convinced Friedman that Kunin would be an ideal fit for the Leafs. 

"I watched him start that fight, and I can see him being on Toronto's radar... He can play different positions and kind of play up and down your lineup... They've been interested in Kunin before... and Treliving generally has a type, and once he's interested in you, he kind of sticks to it."

Add Kunin to the long list of targets for Treliving to target. 

Photo: © Bob Frid-Imagn Images

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