Undrafted 2nd year center Cody Kunyk(20) experienced quite the ride in his first season of pro hockey.
After 4 years at University Of Alaska-Fairbanks setting all sort of records including 2013/2014 NCAA/WCHA Player Of The Year and led the WHCA in scoring and did the same for his team in many key offensive categories.
He would be immediately signed to a one-year deal by Tampa Bay Lightning upon the completion of his college hockey career and skated 15 shifts for 10:12 total ice time with 2 shots on net, 1 hit, 1 breakup with only 20% effectiveness in the face off dot in the final game of the 2013/2014 regular season.
The not exactly huge looking 5’11” 200 lbs. forward would need to be re-signed quickly in the off-season, which he was to another one-year, two-way contract.
Things looked to go amiss from here though as he was a quick exit from training camp and in 69 AHL games with affiliate Syracuse Crunch scored 10 goals and 16 assists with a -12 rating.
He also did not connect for a point in 3 Calder Cup Playoff match-ups in a quick first round exit.
He was not offered a qualifying offer to stay in the prospect system rendering him an unrestricted free agent.
At already 25-years old he probably surveyed possible scenarios for his sophomore season and came away with the best possibility being to take his hockey elsewhere, signing with Grizzlys Wolfsburg of DEL for 2015/2016.
Before ever suiting up in Germany he was released and put under contract a week later for Genofte Stars of Denmark’s Metal Ligaen.