During the bulk of his career with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Kunitz averaged upwards of 19:09 minutes per game (2013-14), but his number has gone down each of the last few seasons, with Kunitz averaging a career low of 11:57 in 2017-18.
"He was used in primarily a checking role last year, but he still scored 13 goals," said Bowman. "He played a lot with Ryan Callahan and he did move up throughout the season and played on more offensive lines as well. He obviously had a really long run in Pittsburgh with Sidney Crosby on the left side. I think it's still early to tell what line he's going to be on (in Chicago), but he brings a lot of intangibles and intensity to the game."
Kunitz has shown that even with a lot of miles on his tires, he can complement a roster that's full of both veterans and youth.
"That's a good dynamic for winning teams nowadays," he said. "You need the guys who have experience. A lot of teams are letting their young guys propel their careers by getting opportunities. I think you see that with the Blackhawks and some of their young guys taking steps into their second or third years and really contributing. Obviously, you have the veteran guys who are the star power of the team that really control the locker room and stuff, but I think it's an exciting team to be a part of."
Adding another experienced voice to the club's stable of veterans makes sense, especially a player with a history of wanting to help younger ones grow their game. Kunitz comes off as a big team-first guy, which is a good addition when youth is knocking at the door.