Sharks expected to sign former first-round forward to one-year extension

San Jose Sharks center Luke Kunin.

PuckPedia reports that the San Jose Sharks and forward Luke Kunin are nearing a one-year extension that will pay Kunin $2.75M. The deal will clock in just shy of Kunin’s qualifying offer which would have been $3M.

Now just one year away from unrestricted free agency, it was reported a few months ago that Kunin was open to signing a multi-year contract with the Sharks organization. Instead, Kunin and San Jose can punt those conversations down the line as the middle-six forward will suit up for his third season with the Sharks.

While averaging just under 16 minutes of ice time per game, Kunin potted 11 goals and 18 points in 77 games for San Jose this season which was good for seventh on the team in the former category. However, Kunin’s possession metrics took a nose dive this season with a CorsiFor% of 36.5 — a six-point decrease off his career average. With his secondary scoring and physicality, Kunin still holds value as a middle-six option for the Sharks.

Additionally, after a historically bad season for the organization, San Jose may have rewarded Kunin for wanting to stay with the organization in the first place. He now has the opportunity to add to his earning power in unrestricted free agency if he can capitalize on this one-year deal with the Sharks.

Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now was the first to report that Kunin and San Jose were nearing a deal.

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