Four-time Stanley Cup champion Chris Kunitz announced his retirement on Tuesday after 15 NHL seasons.

The 39-year-old, who spent his last season in Chicago, will join the Blackhawks' hockey operations department as a player development adviser, assisting both the NHL team's and AHL squad's coaching staffs.

Kunitz won his first Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007, then claimed three more with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009, 2016, and 2017. He also earned an Olympic gold medal with Canada in 2014.

Kunitz's decorated career seemed improbable at one point. He was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Ferris State by the Ducks in 2003 but failed to score in his 21-game rookie season in 2003-04. He was claimed off waivers by the Atlanta Thrashers at the beginning of the 2005-06 season, playing in just two games with the now-defunct club before Anaheim claimed him back off waivers two weeks later. He went on to score 19 goals with the Ducks that year, finishing 15th in Calder Trophy voting.

Despite being an integral part of the Ducks' title run in 2007, he was traded to the Penguins on Feb. 26, 2009, along with Eric Tangradi, in exchange for coveted defenseman Ryan Whitney.

The trade would help the Pens capture their first Stanley Cup since 1992. Kunitz proved to be a key glue guy, riding shotgun with Sidney Crosby.

Kunitz had the best two-year stretch of his career during his age 33 and 34 seasons, tallying 57 goals and 120 points in 126 games, which earned him a spot on Canada's stacked 2014 Olympic roster.

He remained a clutch performer even as his production tailed off in the following seasons. His marquee moment came in Game 7 of the 2017 Eastern Conference Final against the Ottawa Senators, scoring the double-overtime winner to send the Penguins back to the Cup Final.

He finished his career with 268 goals and 619 points in 1,022 games.

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