Is Michael Bunting no longer going to get the benefit of the doubt from the refs?

[Stephen]

It's weird. It seems to have begun with the Dan Kelly incident when he put hands on Bunting. My guess is the team dealt with it off ice and there is bad blood between the team and the officiating.

The Leafs need to remind the league the officials shouldn’t have “bad blood.”

 

[Morbo]

I'm looking forward to more of the usual impartial competent officiating we always get in the postseason.

 

[TOGuy14]

I'm looking forward to more of the usual impartial competent officiating we always get in the postseason.

I still think back to that year we played Boston in the playoffs.

Boston was second in the league in PIMs, they were known as being tough, physical and nasty. We were dead last in PIMs with a team of fast skilled rookie/sophomore kids. Everything in the pre-series talk was how would these soft / skilled Leaf players hold up against the barrage of physicality of Boston.

In the end I think Boston had something like 10 more PP opportunities in the series

I also think back to the insane amount of 5 on 3 opportunities TB got last year as well...

Final thought, even when the PIMs look kind of close dive a bit deeper. I find a lot of the time it seems like the opposing team gets the first 2-3 PP chances and then usually the Leafs get a couple "makeup" calls later in the game when they are already down or out of it.

 

[ULF_55]

Bunting, as it stands now, shouldn't be re-signed.

Get him out of the spotlight, some US market where no one cares about hockey, it's just another entertainment vehicle, not an elite sporting event.

 

[3blizzard4]

Where does Bunting play on any other team? I think he is slotted as a career third and fourth liner.

 

[andora]

On one hand i am glad this is happening because i didnt want to re sign him, and certainly not for anything mid money.

On the other hand they gotta sort him out before round one.. he is turning into a disaster

 

[ACC1224]

Is he still leading the league in penalties drawn?

 

[Notsince67]

Is he still leading the league in penalties drawn?

No. Dahlin

 

[The Iceman]

Teams might overpay for Bunting in the offseason doing a Zach Hyman compare.

 

[Cams]

Bunting has to learn to tone it done at times. He gets too caught up emotionally sometimes and hurts himself, and the team even too.

Would I resign him.........for sure, but depends on the cost.

At least he hasn't got suspended for going over the line - he's not dirty, just his own worst enemy at times.

 

[PROUD PAPA]

If Bunting can't get his emotions in check (it might already be too late for the officials to get over their emotional issues) he's as much of a liability as an asset. I said a few weeks ago that the hardon the refs have for him can negatively impact the entire line either by allowing opponents to take him completely out of the play with zero concerns about putting their own team down or by him playing opponents the same way they play him and Bunting having a well beaten trail to the sin bin.
I hold out little hope the refs can put their petty feelings aside based on the date on the calendar which makes the situation one of my biggest concerns heading into the playoffs.

 

[SoftDumpNtheCorner88]

Here's a hot take.


Bunting needs to DROP THE GLOVES atleast once to change the refs narrative on him. The refs hear what he is saying in the Ice and the opposing team will challenge him and he will always never take the bait. So the refs see that as him ratting it up without answering any bells. If he can atleast show he's playing with passion enough to fight if push comes to shove then maybe the refs might believe his cries for help when a penalty is made. At the point he's just looked at as a whiner that plays on the edge.

Just drop the gloves with someone throw a few punches and wrestle them down. Win or lose atleast you backed it up in some way.


He's going to the box anyways even when he isn't fighting back might as well and it count.

 

[notbias]

Where does Bunting play on any other team? I think he is slotted as a career third and fourth liner.

.... he has 124 pts in 182 games, that is a 56 point pace. He is probably a 2nd/3rd liner without the stars we have.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

At least Jomboy likes Bunting.