Chicago Blackhawks’ Chris Kunitz to play 1,000th NHL game

Chicago Blackhawks forward Chris Kunitz will be skating in his 1,000th NHL game tonight against the New Jersey Devils. He has won four Stanley Cups in his career.

Tonight, the Chicago Blackhawks are looking to bounce back from a 6-3 loss to the Boston Bruins with a better performance against the New Jersey Devils. While fans are focused on getting back in the win column, one of the forwards will be hitting a milestone tonight.

Chris Kunitz will be skating in his 1000th NHL game in front of the home crowd at the United Center. The 39-year-old winger has played for five teams through 15 seasons, compiling 613 points in 999 games.

Prior to the start of his professional career, Kunitz played for Ferris State University, where he was nominated for the Hobey Baker Award his senior year. He signed with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in 2003 and won his first Stanley Cup with the Ducks in 2007.

After recording 192 points in 313 games in Anaheim, Kunitz was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins at the trade deadline in 2009. He tallied 14 points in 24 playoff games that year to help the Pens earn their first Stanley Cup of the Sidney Crosby era. He won two more Cups in 2016 and 2017.

Last season, Kunitz played all 82 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning and recorded 13 goals and 16 assists. He tallied just one assist in the 17 playoff games. He signed with the Chicago Blackhawks in the offseason as a free agent.

Despite having only four points in 33 games this season, Kunitz has the highest Corsi-for percentage (52.3) on the Blackhawks. He has a career 54.9 Corsi-for percentage.

In 178 career playoff games, Kunitz has scored 27 goals and 63 assists for 99 points. He earned a spot on the NHL’s First All-Star team in the lockout-shortened 2012-2013 season after finishing tied for seventh in league scoring with 52 points.

Like all NHL players who skate in 1,000 games, Kunitz will be awarded a silver stick to commemorate his achievement. Congratulations to Chris Kunitz on a phenomenal career!

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Puck drop between the Chicago Blackhawks and the New Jersey Devils is set for 7:30 p.m. central. The game will be on WGN on both television and radio. Let’s go ‘Hawks!