Bunting for Calder

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It's Rookie of the Year Not Youngest Rookie with the Brightest Future
Excellent point. I think Raymond, Seider, etc. are better players, but you can't deny Bunting's season.

For those in other markets talking about anyone being able to play with Matthews and Marner, while true, Bunting has actually enhanced both. How can you not argue Bunting is a good part of why both Mitch and Auston are having the incredible seasons they're having?

I hate homerism, but I think objectively speaking Bunting is the guy who should win the award. His impact is more than just his own points and the points of M&M. He does a lot of little things like creating penalties and keeping the energy high on his line. Off topic, but Bunting is the kind of guy who should be playing with Nylander to elevate him as he has M&M.
 
I still feel like bunting is disrespected as a 3rd wheel even by our own fanbase, Calder or not.

He has underrated hockey IQ. Is always in a good spot to give/recieve a pass. Everyone acts like it's easy to slot in beside Matthews and Marner. It ain't. Ask Nick Ritchie.

He creates a ton of havoc in the O zone that allows Matthews and Marner (and him) to get touches around the net.

I'm not saying he's as good as Matthews and Marner. But I do think he could contribute 40-50 points on a bad team with more minutes/PP opportunity and less talent around him. Small sample in Arizona last year, but still.

Excited we have him at a good cap for another year. The guy is money and slowly becoming one of my favourite Leafs.

Oh ya and other than the points don't forget he gets under teams skin, not a quantifiable skill but certainly one that can help change momentum and get teams off their game.
 
Bunting is the team leader in plus minus as well, which really confuses the hell out of me. I mean you would think his linemates who have 102 and 94 points would have a higher plus minus rating. Yet Bunting is a plus 30 and Mathews is a plus 17 Bunting is almost double, such a weird thing.
 
Bunting is the team leader in plus minus as well, which really confuses the hell out of me. I mean you would think his linemates who have 102 and 94 points would have a higher plus minus rating. Yet Bunting is a plus 30 and Mathews is a plus 17 Bunting is almost double, such a weird thing.
I'd say that Bunting accumulating far fewer of his points on the PP while also averaging five minutes less of ice time per game should partially explain that difference in +/- rating from his 5 vs 5 linemates.
 
6 games to get 7 points. A Leafs record would be a nice consolation prize.
 
I'd say that Bunting accumulating far fewer of his points on the PP while also averaging five minutes less of ice time per game should partially explain that difference in +/- rating from his 5 vs 5 linemates.
It's even more mind boggling....
So at even strength Mathews has been on the ice for 57 goals against, Marner has been on the ice for 42 goals against and Bunting has been on the ice for 28 goals against. That is a lot more goals being given up while Mathews and Marner are on the ice without Bunting, for those 3 or 4 more minutes of even strength icetime a game.
 
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It's even more mind boggling....
So at even strength Mathews has been on the ice for 57 goals against, Marner has been on the ice for 42 goals against and Bunting has been on the ice for 28 goals against. That is a lot more goals being given up while Mathews and Marner are on the ice without Bunting, for those 3 or 4 minutes more minutes of even strength icetime a game.
Bunting for Selke??? ;)
 
It's even more mind boggling....
So at even strength Mathews has been on the ice for 57 goals against, Marner has been on the ice for 42 goals against and Bunting has been on the ice for 28 goals against. That is a lot more goals being given up while Mathews and Marner are on the ice without Bunting, for those 3 or 4 more minutes of even strength icetime a game.

Those are

A) SH goals against
B) empty net goals against
C) OT goals against
 
Considering Bunting doesn’t get PP time like the other guys and is leading the rookies in points.
I think he should win.
 
Looks like Bunting just got married.

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74 penalties taken in 2 seasons in Toronto. Only 22 in the next season split between Carolina and Pittsburgh. The refs treatment of Bunting here, especially the second season, was an absolute farse

Every Leafs' player is scrutinized to ensure no favoritism.

It carries over until it wears out on another team.
 
I wonder if Bunting's treatment of the refs had anything to do with the extra scrutiny.

Like swearing at them and giving them the finger. It's not like Bunting was Mr. Innocent. He made a lot of dirty selfish plays.

Like the cheap shot to Cernak's head that got him suspended in the Tampa series.

That stunt may have been the final straw. The Leafs saw him as a loose cannon after that. A liability who couldn't be trusted in the playoffs.

If you ask me it all goes back to the makeup of the team.

Nobody else is pushing boundaries. So one guy constantly playing on the edge attracts all the attention. Especially when that one guy sows animosity between himself and the officials monitoring his behaviour.

After a while even the most patient of parents want to give a brat a spanking just for showing his face.
 
74 penalties taken in 2 seasons in Toronto. Only 22 in the next season split between Carolina and Pittsburgh. The refs treatment of Bunting here, especially the second season, was an absolute farse

So to those that say the refs dont unfairly target Toronto.. this stat kinda tells a different story. It's not that the PIM are not PIM , it's that they let stuff go elsewhere that they call in Toronto.
 

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