DENVER – He'd been away from the group for months, continuing his first professional season in the minors, but forward Luke Kunin felt an opportunity to rejoin the Wild might emerge.
The team had made subtle tweaks at the trade deadline and with roster flexibility created from those decisions, there was room to usher in change from the pipeline — and Kunin was the first fresh yet familiar face tabbed to boost the Wild after he was recalled from the American Hockey League on Tuesday.
"It's a really good group up here," he said. "I don't think they need to move a lot of pieces for them to win hockey games. It worked out for me. I'm looking forward to playing and helping them win hockey games."
Kunin made his first appearance since his addition Friday against the Avalanche; it was also his first assignment with the Wild since a 17-game stint in October and November when he chipped in two goals and two assists. He was sent back to Iowa, where he started the season, to rebuild his confidence and log heavy minutes to enhance his development.
"I think I got more comfortable as those games went on and toward the end, I was feeling really good about my game," Kunin said. "So going back down there, I had more touches with the puck and some power play and things like that. I got some more confidence. I feel good about my game now. I've been working on a lot of wall play and being strong down low. I'm hoping it translates here."
In Iowa, Kunin scored 10 goals and amassed 19 points in 36 games — less production than he had last season in his final campaign at University of Wisconsin when he posted 22 goals and 38 points in 35 games.
But the transition to the pro game has gone as anticipated in the 20-year-old's eyes.
"The [AHL] is not an easy league to produce [in] and score," he said. "A lot of the goals and points are going to be on power plays and situations like that. I feel the last little bit down there, I like where my game is headed, and I feel confident and I feel like I can score. I think it is what I expected. You always want to say you can do better and you can be better. I'm happy with my game."
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