The Pittsburgh Penguins have re-signed forward Chris Kunitz to a two-year contract extension, it was announced today by executive vice president and general manager Ray Shero.
The deal begins with 2012-13 season and runs through the 2013-14 campaign, and has an average annual value of $3.725 million.
Kunitz, 32, has played in all four games this season for Pittsburgh, tallying one assist. Last year he had one of his best NHL seasons, ranking second on the team with 23 goals — the 2nd-highest total of his career — and adding 25 assists for 48 points in 66 games.
The 6-foot, 193-pound forward has spent the past three-plus seasons with Pittsburgh, helping the team capture the Stanley Cup in 2009. Kunitz has appeared in 140 regular-season games with Pittsburgh, totaling 99 points (43G-56A), a plus-25 rating, 12 power-play goals and two shorthanded tallies. He has 26 points (6G-20A) in 43 postseason contests.
A native of Regina, SK, Kunitz was acquired from Anaheim on Feb. 26, 2009 with Eric Tangradi in exchange for Ryan Whitney. Kunitz finished that season with 18 points (7G-11A) in 20 regular-season games, then added 14 points (1G-13A) in 24 postseason games as the Penguins won the franchise's third Stanley Cup.
Prior to joining the Penguins, Kunitz played parts of five seasons with Anaheim, where he twice surpassed the 20-goal and 50-point plateau. His best season with the Ducks came in 2006-07 when he established career highs offensively in goals (25), assists (35) and points (60), as Anaheim won the Stanley Cup.
Overall, Kunitz has appeared in 455 career games with Pittsburgh, Anaheim and the Atlanta Thrashers since signing with Anaheim as an undrafted free agent, totaling 124 goals, 167 assists and 291 points and a plus-82 rating. He has added 42 points (10G-32A) in 78 postseason games.
Kunitz played four collegiate seasons with Ferris State of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) from 1999-2003. During his senior year in '02-03, Kunitz was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award (best college player) and he became the first Ferris State player to be named CCHA Player of the Year.