The Nashville Predators have the #17 choice in the NHL Draft. The Preds have a decent chance that Luke Kunin will be available to them.
The Nashville Predators be interested if Luke Kunin falls to them at the number seventeen spot in the NHL Entry Draft and no one they may have ranked higher is still available. He is ranked anywhere from 16 to 19 on most boards so he could be right in the wheelhouse of the Predators.
An American born out of Chesterfield, MO, he played as a freshman at the University of Wisconsin this season and scored 19 goals and 32 points in 34 games.
Luke Kunin Statistics
Position: Center
Team/League: Univ. of Wisconsin/NCAA
Size: 5’11″, 192
Shoots: Right
NHL Player Style: Joe Pavelski
Probability of Success: Very likely he can become a top-six forward either at center or on the wing. Returning for his Sophomore season at Wisconsin but has a lot of upside.
Analysis: From EliteProspects.com:
"A highly intelligent and offensively gifted forward. Has a keen eye for scoring opportunities and has shown flashes of elite-level finishing capability. Works hard and isn’t afraid to battle for puck possession. Good hands and puck skills, and has a really accurate release on his shot. Needs to work on his explosiveness, staying in motion with the play, and strength behind his shot. All-in-all, a gifted offensive force with the potential to blossom into a highlight reel player. ~Curtis Joe"
2016 NHL Draft Profile: University of Wisconsin Center, Luke Kunin https://t.co/Q1N6k0tlS9
— DefendingBigD (@DefendingBigD) June 4, 2016
The more we find out about this kid, the more we really like him. As long as the Nashville Predators aren’t gun shy about a college kid right now, Luke Kunin might be a real find. He really showed his stuff as a freshman and has a huge upside. He is under six foot but really works on his strength.
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He looks like a natural goal scorer, he has the finishing ability and vision to put the puck in the net. That is something that you can’t teach, you are born with.
Here is an analysis from Draft Analyst:
"An honest, clean player with very good speed and strength, Kunin is a natural goal scorer, blessed with a laser of a shot and excellent instincts. He was unstoppable at last year’s U18 World Championships, scoring six goals in seven games without the benefit of playing on the top line. He’s been just as prolific as a freshman for the rebuilding Badgers, who entrusted him with top line duties. He’s taken advantage of the NCAA schedule by hitting the weights, and you can tell by the way he’s been plastering collegiate opponents. Kunin is an excellent skater who is always looking for his shot – a process which doesn’t take a lot of time to bear results. Wisconsin coach Mike Eaves has raved about his maturity and leadership, and the fact that Kunin continues to improve while fighting Type 1 Diabetes tells us there’s more to his game than just scoring."
He quick hands and is a quick learner Kunin has a lot of the attributes you can’t teach. He needs to work on his explosiveness and keeping his feet moving but could turn into something that is really special.
Check out our other Prospect Reports:
Max Jones Julien Gauthier Kieffer Bellows
Dante Fabbro Riley Tufte Jake Bean
Michael McLeod Luke Kunin German Rubtsov
Keep an eye out for more Draft Prospect reports on the Nashville Predators. They could look at any position, but we feel that a forward is the best bet.