Cunningham joined the Coyotes late last season and recorded four points in 19 games. He is penciled into a fourth-line role, but will need a strong camp to solidify himself there after signing a two-way contract in the offseason. It's quite likely he'll bounce between both the Coyotes and AHL Springfield during the upcoming campaign.
Cunningham made his NHL debut last season, appearing in two games for the Bruins. He spent the bulk of the season with Providence of the AHL, where he scored a team-high 25 goals and 22 assists. The 2010 fourth-rounder will compete for a roster spot in training camp this fall and even if he returns to the AHL to start the season, he'd be a candidate for an in-season call-up.
In his second year as a pro, Cunningham notched 25 goals and 46 points in 75 games for AHL Providence last season. At 5-foot-9 191 pounds, Cunningham is undersized, but he possesses good intangibles, as well a solid blend of skills and could make a run at a roster spot in training camp, presumably as a pesky third- or fourth-line winger.
Cunningham led AHL Providence with 20 goals in 76 games last season, but whether or not his solid blend of skill (including a quick shot) and character will be enough for him to overcome his relative lack of size (5-9, 191 pounds) will ultimately determine whether or not how much, if at all, he thrives at the NHL level.
Cunningham, who split his 2010-2011 season between the WHL Portland and Vancouver, posting a 27-60-87 line in 71 games, is ticketed for AHL duty this coming season. Cunningham, who GM Peter Chiarelli notes is "just a guy that’s got a real complete game” is a former teammate of Milan Lucic, and that may have helped him get drafted, but whether or not his solid blend of skill (including a quick shot) and character is enough for him to overcome his relative lack of size (5-9, 191 pounds) will ultimately determine whether or not how much, if at all, he thrives at the NHL level.
Cunningham is a former teammate of Milan Lucic, and that may have helped him get drafted, but whether or not his solid blend of skill and character is enough for him to overcome his lack of size will ultimately determine whether or not he'll ever skate with Lucic at the NHL level.
