Bunting UFA Next Seasom
- Thread starter horner
- Start date
-
Xenforo Cloud will be upgrading us to version 2.3.5 on March 3rd at 12 AM GMT. This version has increased stability and fixes several bugs. We expect downtime for the duration of the update. The admin team will continue to work on existing issues, templates and upgrade all necessary available addons to minimize impact of this new version. Click Here for Updates
Tak7
Registered User
For the same reason those players got money - NHL GMs highly value players that combo skill/speed/grit
Menzinger
Kessel4LadyByng
GMs may value that, but that doesn't explain why he's going to make more money.
Racer88
Registered User
- Sep 29, 2020
- 13,168
- 13,321
Geeez with all the projected raises these Leat players are going to want we better hope the cap goes to…….say…….120-130 million
You have to add in the Dubas factor. Bunting knows he will be able to bend him over like the expensive 4 did
He has 25 even strength points. Tied with Marner and only two points less than Hyman.
Menzinger
Kessel4LadyByng
He's also only played two seasons in the league and can only produce when playing in the top 6 alongside Marner/Matthews. Don't get me wrong, I like the guy but don't see a ton of contract comparables suggesting he's getting that much money given his track record
Dubas' walked away from Hyman when his demands got too high. Likely the same would happen here. Though there seems more of an inclination from both sides here to get a deal done
kb
Registered User
- Aug 28, 2009
- 15,355
- 22,015
Can't that be said about any left winger that plays with Matthews/Marner or Matthews/Nylander or even Tavares/Marner or Tavares/Nylander. Hyman went from playing with two good centres and two good right wingers in Toronto, to playing with two good centres and the Nuge in Edmonton.
Hyman and Bunting have both been put in great situations.
LeafsNation75
Registered User
He also walked away from Jack Cambell and didn't give him 5 years at $5 million AAV.
ULF_55
Moderator
Menzinger
Kessel4LadyByng
I think he ends up staying in Toronto for a deal with 7-8 years of term. Basically what they almost did with Hyman (but with a lower aav)
I’d sign that any day of the week. However, I think even on an 8 year deal, we’re probably looking at at least 4 million cap hit.
1specter
Registered User
- Sep 27, 2016
- 12,906
- 19,568
Outside of the big 4, who has Dubas paid a lot of money or term to on this team? The only other player is Morgan Rielly who would've gotten more money on the open market (just look at what Nurse and Jones got...), and signed for a pretty fair deal.
I was quite critical of Dubas with how he handled Marner's contract and also didn't love the Matthews deal, but overall he's actually handled the cap quite well with his biggest strength being not giving into overvaluing his mid-tier guys and locking them into potentially cap crippling contracts. He's also kept things flexible by not committing big term to support players as well, no contract for non-core guys has been more than 4 years, with most only in the 2-3 range. Most of the team will be RFA/UFA in the next 2 seasons which allows a lot of flexibility to restructure or re-tool the team.
All of his big money/term deals have been to guys who are actually good and are core pieces, he has never given a big deal to depth or replacement players. He took a lot of heat for how he handled goaltending but he walked away from Jack and got two better goalies for only a slight premium in cap $.
I am hoping Mo paved the way last year by starting a new wave of taking a bit less to remain competitive. We will soon find out. Obviously a guy like Gio signing for 800k is more akin to Spezza, but core players like Mo signing to term and undoubtingly leaving money on the table is hopefully a sign of what's to come.
That said, It's a business. Bunts has to take care of himself and his family. I do expect him to be a Leaf next year as I believe there is mutual interest to stay. I think a 7-8 year deal is going to be very attractive for a guy who had to scratch and claw his way into the league to begin with. We gave him a shot to make big boy money, and we are willing to pay him accordingly, within reason. He has to be aware of that.
I also think if we let Bunts walk, it will make the resigning of AM34 that much harder given how close the 2 have grown together on and off the ice.
Bunts is a big part of our team at the current moment and for our future. He is 2 years younger then Hyms was going into UFA, so I am less worried about a 7+ year term on his deal. I also don't think he will get anywhere near what Hyman got in terms of AAV, as he doesn't kill penalties and he is never the first over the boards when protecting a lead. I love bunts, but he is no where near as good as Hyman currently is, and when Hyman entered UFA.
I think 7 x 3.5AAV with a M-NTC makes a lot of sense for both player and team IMO. I think it is obvious that Bunts loves being a Leaf. That deal sets him up financially for life, and it puts him in a blue and white jersey for as long as he wants to be. Not a bad deal for a kid who spent parts of 6 seasons in the minors. In all honesty I could even see that AAV go as low as 3.25, but anything that starts with a 3 I'd be happy with.
That said, It's a business. Bunts has to take care of himself and his family. I do expect him to be a Leaf next year as I believe there is mutual interest to stay. I think a 7-8 year deal is going to be very attractive for a guy who had to scratch and claw his way into the league to begin with. We gave him a shot to make big boy money, and we are willing to pay him accordingly, within reason. He has to be aware of that.
I also think if we let Bunts walk, it will make the resigning of AM34 that much harder given how close the 2 have grown together on and off the ice.
Bunts is a big part of our team at the current moment and for our future. He is 2 years younger then Hyms was going into UFA, so I am less worried about a 7+ year term on his deal. I also don't think he will get anywhere near what Hyman got in terms of AAV, as he doesn't kill penalties and he is never the first over the boards when protecting a lead. I love bunts, but he is no where near as good as Hyman currently is, and when Hyman entered UFA.
I think 7 x 3.5AAV with a M-NTC makes a lot of sense for both player and team IMO. I think it is obvious that Bunts loves being a Leaf. That deal sets him up financially for life, and it puts him in a blue and white jersey for as long as he wants to be. Not a bad deal for a kid who spent parts of 6 seasons in the minors. In all honesty I could even see that AAV go as low as 3.25, but anything that starts with a 3 I'd be happy with.
Time for Bunts to get his $$$ too .. you only get a short window as a player to get paid .. he has to get his $$$ this summer .. and he will .. it has nothing to do with Leafs .. like Zach he will always be a Leaf fan .. but he has to get paid .. Dubie needs to find another younger gem of a player to replace him
ACC1224
Super Elite, Passing ALL Tests since 2002
- Aug 19, 2002
- 78,288
- 45,506
Unfortunately this is probably what it's going to come down to.
The Iceman
Registered User
- Sep 22, 2007
- 5,343
- 4,065
Like Lily, Sandin and Jack Campbell bent him over this off season?
What have you done for me lately Kyle?
Mickey Marner
Registered User
As long as the AAV starts with 4 and the term isn’t absurd, I don’t think there should be an issue re-signing him. Letting Kerfoot, Engvall & Holl walk provides the space to re-sign Bunting, Kampf & Timmins, with enough leftover for a couple roster spots.
It is interesting as well that whereas Cdn tax rates are obviously higher than the States, but if you live in Canada, but get paid in US $, that has to offset some of the tax issue. At current exchange rates, the $3.5 US equates to about $4.7 Cdn.
Call me crazy, but I just don't think his AAV will start with a 4. He's a good player, but again, he doesn't kill penalties and he's not shown any ability to produce outside of the top 6.
The big differance between Bunts and Hyms is that Hyman was a line driver. You could put Zach on any line and that instantly became the most effective line on the team. I'd even argue Michkeyev had more of an impact outside the top 6 then Bunts.
I am not trying to discredit Bunts, but that is just the way we have to approach his next deal. He is a good fit in our top 6, but he is replaceable if the price does not make sense. I'm sure we could find a lot of players who could slide into the left side with Matthews and Nylander/Marner and have an impact. Matthew Knies being one name that instantly comes to mind.
I love Bunts, and I hope he stays. But IMO, it will have to be a team friendly deal. Not that he is a "core" player, but having him resign to a team friendly deal a year after Mo signed a team friendly deal just sets the tone for players to follow IMO. Sidney Crosby once said that taking less only makes sense if everyone else on the team does the same. Mo left some money on the table last season. My hope is that Bunts will follow suit. And hopefully so on and so forth. Every dollar will count when it comes to a AM34 extension.
Why do people call Bunting gritty? Hes very soft. But he’s a rat and stirs shit up, which is great. Don’t remember the last time he threw a hit tbh (or even absorbed one).
