Bunting’s Next Contract

[fahad203]

I am still awaiting to see the Tucker everyone keeps saying he is
Only time you notice him is when he scores, mostly because of Marner, Matthews and now Kampf who made a great pass to him the other night
Otherwise you don't see or hear about him during game

Sure he'll get you 20 goals, but so did Jonas Hoglund

3.5 Milion x 4

If Jarnkrok played with Matthews/Marner all season he would have gotten 20 goals by now
Calle only makes 2 million and better defensively

 

[ACC1224]

Package him off.

What does that even mean?

 

[Jozay]

Think you probably let Bunting walk instead of giving him a large contract.

 

[57 Years No Cup]

From Morgan Rielly to Sheldon Keefe, Maple Leafs’ to-do list is far from over after NHL trade frenzy — Toronto Star

Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly has had an up-and-down 2022-23 season.

apple.news

According to Kypreos, Bunting is asking for $5m a season. It doesn’t say anything about term.

I have no doubt Bunting is the most likely of our UFA’s to take a discount, and term vs AAV is a good place to start, but I also have no doubt he could get $5m on the open Market.

If he sticks to his guns and won’t settle for less than $5m/per, do you give it to him or thank him and send him on his way?

See ya!

 

[ACC1224]

I am still awaiting to see the Tucker everyone keeps saying he is
Only time you notice him is when he scores, mostly because of Marner, Matthews and now Kampf who made a great pass to him the other night
Otherwise you don't see or hear about him during game

Sure he'll get you 20 goals, but so did Jonas Hoglund

3.5 Milion x 4

If Jarnkrok played with Matthews/Marner all season he would have gotten 20 goals by now
Calle only makes 2 million and better defensively

That doesn't sound like a thing.
Everyone says that? If anyone says that they shouldn't be taken seriously.

 

[showtime8]

The style of play has caught up to him and he hasn't been as effective in the last half of the year, as he was in the first half.

It doesn't mean that he can't flip the switch and turn it on in the playoffs. That will determine what kind of ticket he gets in the off-season.

My guess is the Leafs would be more comfortable on a 4 year contract at somewhere south of 2.5mill. Based on comparables, I'm guessing his agent is going to look at Nick Paul's deal as a benchmark.

 

[Koolboss]

Just another plug, who cares

 

[fahad203]

That doesn't sound like a thing.
Everyone says that? If anyone says that they shouldn't be taken seriously.

Plenty of people have said that. There was another thread on Bunting and people made that comparison many times
Along with Marchand

 

[wingman75]

If we are moving on from Kerfoot, Bunting cannot consume a dollar more than that contracts current value.

Capfriendly tells me Kerf makes 3.5/yr. So, imo not a penny more than 3.5/yr for Bunting on a max 3yr.

Buntin's 950k can be backfilled by one of the guys in the system. McMann or other.

 

[Morbo]

we got good value out of him, time to move on. If Knies shows well in the playoffs he's a candidate for an offensive LW spot next season.

 

[francis246]

I think Bunting will take a discount. It’s not really the same as a Hyman situation IMO.

He knows his best chance to have a sustained top 6 role on a contending team is with the leafs. He can get paid and go back to playing on a bad team. Or he can get money and get less play time on a contending team or he can take a little less than market value and be a top 6 player here in Toronto where he likes to be. I think those are his 3 options really.

 

[CabanaBoy5]

I wouldn't assume he can be easily replaced. Robertson, Jarnkrok, Kerfoot, etc have been tried in the top 6, and none have been nearly as effective as Bunting. Just because you're playing with 2 of Matthews, Marner, Tavares, and Nylander doesn't at all make it a given that you'll be able to put up ~60 points.

I agree we can't just write a blank cheque here, but we got VERY lucky when we replaced Hyman with Bunting. I wouldn't assume we can easily do it again, especially as we've obviously been trying to fill the second top 6 LW spot for years, without success.

Have any of those three been tried for any length of time? I think Bunting ideally is a bottom 6'er, the problem is any time he's been tried there he's been ineffective. He needs two elite players who create alot of offence on their own to be in the top 6. I'm not even sure he's a good puck retriever. He's a good agitator who attracts attention through some of his antics and thereby helps his linemates that way. I believe if you gave Jarnkrok a run beside Matthews and magic Mitch for more than one or two games that he'd be just as effective. I contend that depending on the term, I'd give him 2.5-3 million or let him walk.

 

[notbias]

I'd probably let him walk at anything north of 3.5 and I am not even sure I'd want to give him that.

But then how will we ever replace Hym...errrr Bunting?

 

[leafan11]

Mirtle mentioned on the radio that he doesn’t think he’s going to be back and usually Mirtle is pretty accurate. Maybe after Matthews sees another one of his friends thrown overboard because of cap reasons it will make him wanna take less on his next deal, but that also may mean Matthews will have to shoot some more commercials.

 

[ToneDog]

Accept the Nick Paul contract or I'll drive you to the airport.

 

[GoonieFace]

Doesn’t seem like the guy you want to commit money and term to.

 

[ACC1224]

Plenty of people have said that. There was another thread on Bunting and people made that comparison many times
Along with Marchand

Anyone making those comparisons shouldn't be taken seriously.
Both Tucker and Marchand back up the chatter, Bunting just keeps talking.

 

[Beaumaris]

Adios amigo

Exactly.

 

[IPS]

Not sure why 'virgin, teenager' is an insult? I'd go back to those days in a heartbeat.

I miss Eklund rumours, that guy is/was legendary.

I could honestly go the rest of my days without seeing that stupid HockeyBuzz blog ever again.

 

[MarMarSab3]

3.5 x 3 should be max we spend on him.

 

[dubplatepressure]

I am still awaiting to see the Tucker everyone keeps saying he is
Only time you notice him is when he scores, mostly because of Marner, Matthews and now Kampf who made a great pass to him the other night
Otherwise you don't see or hear about him during game

Sure he'll get you 20 goals, but so did Jonas Hoglund

3.5 Milion x 4

If Jarnkrok played with Matthews/Marner all season he would have gotten 20 goals by now
Calle only makes 2 million and better defensively

I haven't seen that comparison anywhere, but Tucker scored 20 and had 170 PIMs in his 4th season. Tucker had some bite - Bunting is all bark.

 

[andora]

3.5 x 3 should be max we spend on him.

Personally i think it has to be lower or not worth it.. which he wont accept so adios

i think you keep the format of trying better value in that spot and stay away from the middle range contracts unless it is a sure bet

money over the next two years is celibate tight.. and needs to be potentially spent on goaltending and allow for trade deadline again

I dont see it with bunting

Just asking, not making a judgement here, but do his antics help or hinder the team?

I would say that I lean slightly towards hinder however the range is far greater if you look at what he does not actually helping.

If he could play the way that he plays but actually back it up or at random times have that psycho element then it could actually be a deterrent, something that the other team thinks about but watching objectively I think he's viewed more of a joke. What does he do he flails he yells he screams he fake punches he fake tough guys- that shit does nothing

Have any of those three been tried for any length of time? I think Bunting ideally is a bottom 6'er, the problem is any time he's been tried there he's been ineffective. He needs two elite players who create alot of offence on their own to be in the top 6. I'm not even sure he's a good puck retriever. He's a good agitator who attracts attention through some of his antics and thereby helps his linemates that way. I believe if you gave Jarnkrok a run beside Matthews and magic Mitch for more than one or two games that he'd be just as effective. I contend that depending on the term, I'd give him 2.5-3 million or let him walk.

That's one of the issues with this coaching staff is that you never get extended looks, you get attempts but everything feels rushed and if you don't do anything immediately it's got to be changed which inherently is a fallacy.

Personally I think Steeves could play a similar role on the top line but it would take two years for keefe to try it

Mirtle mentioned on the radio that he doesn’t think he’s going to be back and usually Mirtle is pretty accurate. Maybe after Matthews sees another one of his friends thrown overboard because of cap reasons it will make him wanna take less on his next deal, but that also may mean Matthews will have to shoot some more commercials.

This doesn't have to do with high-end contracts because say we were paying a stud on the fence 10 million and we had a 10 million goalie it would be the same issue it's middle range contracts and their value relative to how they may hinder you and term

 

[Guided by Veseys]

I’m happy for the guy. He will get a big payday somewhere else. It’s a good little star maker system that Dubas has in place; get quite decent players to sign for cheaper and then make a career for themselves. Bodes well for the future.

 

[fahad203]

I haven't seen that comparison anywhere, but Tucker scored 20 and had 170 PIMs in his 4th season. Tucker had some bite - Bunting is all bark.

As I stated. There's another full Bunting thread. Have a read

 

[LeafGrief]

60 point rat who has chemistry with our stars? 5m is a bit rich for him, but if that's what he's coming in at I'd have no problem with a 4m x 5y deal.

I think the idea that we let him walk and easily find a replacement is completely nonsensical. Finding guys who can bang in the odd puck while tagging along with Matthews and Marner is one thing, finding a top6'er who can score 60 points with them is entirely another. I find myself very perplexed by this fanbase's complete disinterest in any sort of investment in our depth. Bunting (and Kampf) should be re-signed.