The Blue Jackets Second Addition at the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline

Yes, I know this post is a bit late, but with all the deals going through later on Friday I waited to be sure we were done and then worked yesterday. So, here is the delayed post for Luke Kunin, who joined the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday afternoon. Luke spent his first three seasons in the NHL with the team that drafted him, the Minnesota Wild. They selected him 15th overall in the First Round back in the 2016 NHL Draft. In his 132 games with them he had 23 goals and 29 assists for 52 points. His next two seasons in the league would be spent with the Nashville Predators where he played 120 games, including his first full 82 game season during the 2021-22 NHL Season. In his time with the Predators he had another 23 goals and 18 assists for 41 points. His last two full seasons in the league and this current one up till he was traded were spent with the San Jose Sharks. He appeared in 171 games with the Sharks, giving them 27 goals and 49 assists for 76 points, his most with any team in his NHL career. This season breaks down to 63 games with 11 goals and 7 assists for 18 points of that three-season total. 

Don Waddell's goal, as mentioned many times by himself in several interviews, was to give the Columbus Blue Jackets 'depth' without 'subtracting' the impact players on this team who have taken it to a playoff contender, something the team and fans could only dream of happening last season. I think Don did a good job at getting us this as our first pickup, Christian Fischer, was on waivers from the Detroit Red Wings and so we gave up nothing to gain him, while Luke Kinun was given to us by the San Jose Sharks for just a 2025 4th Round NHL Draft Pick. 

I look forward to seeing how both men fit in our lineup and how the last 20 games of the Columbus Blue Jackets season play out. 

Welcome to Columbus, Luke Kinun!        




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