Kunin, the Minnesota Wild’s first-round pick in 2016, was competing for a roster spot just 15 months after being drafted into the organization. He showed off a pro-ready game throughout the preseason, showing both skills and a willingness to play with the physicality required of an NHL player. In a fair and just world, he would’ve made his NHL debut last week.
But the NHL is far from a pure meritocracy. Kunin was sent to the Iowa Wild (AHL), for several different reasons. The team offered that they preferred him playing a much heavier workload in the AHL to “sitting around” at the NHL level.