Bruins draft forward Trevor Kuntar with No. 89 overall pick
By Ty Anderson, 985TheSportsHub.com
The Bruins made Trevor Kuntar their first forward selection of the 2020 NHL Draft, selecting him with the 89th overall pick.
A 6-foot, 203-pound forward capable of playing both center and wing, Kuntar recorded a team-leading 28 goals and 53 points in 44 games for the Youngstown Phantoms (USHL) this past season. Kuntar’s 28 goals ranked as the third-most in the USHL, while his 58 points were the 10th-most among all USHL skaters.
Kuntar describes himself as a two-way center, and said that he tries to model his game after Jamie Benn and Matthew Tkachuk. That certainly seems to fit the early scouting reports on the Williamsville, New York native.
“Kuntar is big, heavy, and hard to play against,” a USHL source told 98.5 The Sports Hub. “Good skill, smart.”
“Good motor, and can score some clutch goals,” said another source. “I like this pick a lot for the Bruins.”
Kuntar is also the son of former pro goaltender Les Kuntar, who appeared in six games for the Canadiens in 1993-94, and was the goaltender for the now-defunct AHL Worcester IceCats in their inaugural season (1994-95).
Originally committed to Harvard University, the 19-year-old de-committed outta Cambridge and jumped to Boston College after Harvard switched to online-only classes and canceled their 2020-21 athletics due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
And like Mason Lohrei, who the Bruins drafted with the No. 58 overall pick, Kuntar was draft eligible last season, but ultimately ended the weekend without an NHL team to call his own. It was a moment that’s stuck with Kuntar as he begins his NHL journey at The Heights, and with dreams of making the 20-minute trek to Boston’s TD Garden.
“It was super motivating [to not get drafted last year],” Kuntar admitted. “I’ll remember that day for the rest of my life.
“I just couldn’t be more grateful for this opportunity. The work starts now.”
Listen to Ty Anderson and Matt Dolloff break down the Bruins’ trade rumors and draft picks on the newest episode of the Sports Hub Sidelines podcast:
