Kunin Comfortable, Not Complacent at Development Camp

ST. PAUL -- Luke Kunin has found his comfort zone.
As the Wild's 2016 first-round pick begins his second Development Camp, Kunin is more at ease with his surroundings.

"You definitely feel more comfortable," Kunin said. "You know more faces, more guys, and the coaching staff a little better."
Looking around the dressing room, Kunin can relate to those around him desperate to make a good first impression on the Wild's staff and recalls his first camp fondly.
"You just kind of want to put a little footprint in with the organization," Kunin said. "It's really your first time around the coaching staff and management.
"I just learned from all the coaches, all the other players, and I just thought it was a great experience for me. It's the same kind of thing this year, every time I get on the ice just keep elevating my game."
Kunin's more relaxed demeanor has not gone unnoticed by the team's decision makers.
"He didn't quite know how to react last year being a first-round pick," said Brad Bombardir, Minnesota's Director of Player Development. "I think he was probably just putting a little too much expectation on himself and now I think he's a little bit more comfortable and I think we'll see that on the ice as well."

Make no mistake, though, comfort does not equate to complacency. Bombardir said the team is looking for Kunin to take more of a leadership role in his second development camp, something that comes naturally for Kunin.
"I think being a young guy going to Iowa and these kind of camps you really can take in a lot and learn a lot to help yourself moving forward," Kunin said. "It's only my second year but whenever I'm around I try to be a leader, I try to carry myself the right way. If the young guys need some help I'm definitely a guy that's willing to do that."
Kunin has been a leader at every level he's played. He captained the U.S. to a gold medal at the 2015 IIHF World Under-18 Championship and a gold medal at the World Junior Championship in January.
Last season, Kunin became just the second sophomore captain in University of Wisconsin history, along with Mike Eaves (1975-76), who coached Kunin as a freshman before he was replaced by current Badgers' coach Tony Granato.
"It was a great honor," Kunin said. "For Tony to give me that role as a sophomore was pretty special and I just had to keep doing the same things and keep working on my game to get better to get where I wanted to be."
The19-year-old Kunin, who accelerated his studies in high school to graduate a year early, was the second-youngest college hockey player in the country as a 17-year-old freshman and scored 19 goals for the Badgers.
As a sophomore, Kunin led Wisconsin with 22 goals and 38 points.
Kunin said the decision to leave Wisconsin after two seasons was a difficult one.
"I love Wisconsin and the players and the coaches and the school," Kunin said. "But after talking with the Granatos, my agent and my family, we thought it was best. I thought I was ready to make the jump and I'm glad I did so."
Kunin, who signed a three-year, entry-level deal with the Wild on March 23, got his first taste of pro hockey this past spring when he finished the season playing for the AHL's Iowa Wild at the end of last season and the experience only made him hungrier.
In 12 games with Iowa, Kunin scored five goals, including a hat trick in his third game on March 28 against Rockford, and added three assists as the team fell just short in its playoff push.
"It was great, we had a great group of guys," Kunin said. "The coaching staff did a great job of helping me get on page with the systems and the players as well. They made it a smooth transition for myself. I had a lot of fun down there. I felt like I learned a lot."
"Luke [went] down there at the end of the year and performed quite well," Bombardir said. "There's areas of his game he needs to get better at and we are aware of those areas and he will continue to get better at them just with his attitude alone.
"I have no concerns about Luke Kunin. He has a pro mindset and I assume he's going to find a way to play."
Kunin has spent his summer in Madison working out with Granato and the Wild could not be more pleased with the results.
"He's made great strides again physically," Bombardir said. "He's in phenomenal shape and he always has been but he's done the work so far this summer so it's been pretty impressive."
A center for much of his career, Kunin played wing most of the second half of last season. He says that versatility is one of his strengths.
Bombardir agrees.
"It's huge to be able to put a guy out there in pretty much any position and for you to feel comfortable," Bombardir said. "(A coach) wants to be comfortable knowing that he can rely on the player out there and Luke is one of those guys that you can rely on in all those positions."
But Kunin fully understands he has plenty of more work to do before he can achieve his goal of cracking the Wild's lineup.
"There are a few things I want to work on in the summer to get better," Kunin said. "My wall play down low, the NHL game it's big, strong guys and a lot of it is below the goal line and cycle plays and that's how Minnesota likes to play. I think things like that are what I want to take into the summer to get better at as well as my speed and strength."