Phil Kessel

Penguins' Kunitz puts best foot forward in bid for spot on top line

Published Sep. 24, 2015 10:56 a.m. ET

foxsports

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Chris Kunitz made a favorable first impression in his bid to secure the coveted spot on the team's top line.

Paired with captain Sidney Crosby and prize offseason acquisition Phil Kessel, Kunitz set up a pair of goals in Tuesday's 7-3 preseason victory over the Carolina Hurricanes.

"I thought (Kunitz) worked really well on that line," coach Mike Johnston told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "I like (Kunitz) when he goes hard to the net, when he plays that straight-ahead game. ... I thought he had a lot of jump. Good legs. He's had good legs all camp and he looks like he's got a lot more energy, so that's a positive sign for him right now."

Kunitz assisted on the first of Kessel's two tallies, as he one-touched a pass from Crosby to the five-time 30-goal scorer for an easy conversion.

While Kunitz put his best foot forward, Johnston has made it no secret throughout the summer that he intends to audition several players to join Crosby and Kessel on the team's top line. The names of Beau Bennett and David Perron were initially tossed around, but Johnston admitted that several forwards will have a go in the preseason as he looks for the right chemistry.

Kunitz, who turns 36 on Saturday, collected 17 goals and 23 assists in 74 games last season, one year removed from recording a career high in both tallies (35) and points (68). The Saskatchewan native has scored 224 goals and set up 287 others in 733 career contests with the Anaheim Ducks, Winnipeg Jets and Pittsburgh Penguins.

(h/t Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

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