Confirmed with Link: Leafs sign Michael Bunting to a 2 year contract (950k AAV)

[saltming]

He has a nice touch in front of the net. Something we haven't had since jvr.

 

[Stonehands1990]

He has a nice touch in front of the net. Something we haven't had since jvr.

Props to Dubas for going out and addressing it

 

[aingefan]

So, LW was wide open, and the position was filled with a rat, a big tough guy with talent but motivation problems, has a holdover burner with good defensive acumen, and maybe one of last years best playoff performers.
Oh, and a pest sniper close to elbowing his way in.
Not bad.

 

[zeke]

It's interesting that we and two of our division rivals TB and FLA are all counting on a similar surprising out of nowhere forward for a fairly key middle six role this year.

TOR Bunting (26, 4th rnd pick)
FLA Verhaeghe (26, 3rd rnd pick)
TBL Colton (25, 4th rnd pick)

20-21

Bunting 21gms, 39gls/51pts pace, 26.3sh%, 11.1oish% (AHL: 16gms, 36gl/96pt pace)
Verhaeghe 43gms, 34gls/69pts pace, 16.8sh%, 10.6oish% (AHL: ---)
Colton 30gms, 25gls/33pts pace, 19.6sh%, 10.6oish% (AHL: 3gms, 27gl/82pt pace)

19-20

Bunting ------------------------------------------------- (AHL: 58gms, 17gl/69pt pace)
Verhaeghe 52gms, 14gls/21pts pace, 15.8sh%, 8.3oish% (AHL: ---)
Colton --------------------------------------------------- (AHL: 62gms, 15gl/55pt pace)

18-19

Bunting 5gms, 16gls/16pts pace, 20.0sh%, 4.5oish% (AHL: 52gms, 30gls/65pt pace)
Verhaghe -------------------------------------------------- (AHL: 76gms, 37gl/89pt pace)
Colton ----------------------------------------------------- (AHL: 66gms, 17gl/39pt pace)

 

[Coachcorner]

He has a nice touch in front of the net. Something we haven't had since jvr.

The meman is getting it d.o.n.e sire. We all going to love it. He might have that mogilnian touch like alexander the great back in his makedonians days... he ruled the world man.

Also interesting to see how gabriel is going to get it done with demaiter. They both hard too.

 

[saltming]

The meman is getting it d.o.n.e sire. We all going to love it. He might have that mogilnian touch like alexander the great back in his makedonians days... he ruled the world man.

Also interesting to see how gabriel is going to get it done with demaiter. They both hard too.

We are a much harder team no doubts. It will be fun hearing 4 lines forechecking

 

[justloveleafs]

Hearing four lines forechecking. Well said, I have no ability to do anything for you other than applaud.

 

[Mess]

Counterpoint: Vesey's more experience made him come and play his way whereas bunting might fit into the role we need more easily.
Only time will tell and personally if it goes as planned bunting will be on the 3rd line

I've always been a big proponent of "play the kids" because their play comes with built in enthusiasm and compete level as they try and make their mark.

At age 26 to start this season Bunting isn't your typical 20 year old player just starting out by having 6 seasons 325 AHL games under his belt. Lots of career minor leaguers have come up situationally, then flashed and then gone as fast as they came. So I'm taking a more wait and see what happens approach here.

What I do like about Bunting most is his style of play, high energy and not afraid to go into the heavy traffic areas, take and hit to make a play and his hard work is often rewarded for that effort, and he want's to play a 200ft game making sure he isn't a defensive liability. That makes his game more transferable to become an NHL regular.

That said in a perfect world you would ideally like to break him in on a 3rd line play him alongside a Mikheyev and Kerfoot and let him establish himself against lower level opposition and let him get his feet wet, build up his confidence and where he isn't a focal point of the offense.

However Leafs have 2 glaring holes on the left side on lines #1 and #2 in the top 6 to fill because of departures so the expectations of a player with 26 total NHL games under his belt is going to high, to hit the ground running and immediately contribute. Playing in the top 6 means you likely are also playing against the better QofC of the opposition and its a lot different lining up beside AM and MM and going up against the Perfection line or Point/Kucherov line or Barkov within the Div or even against Crosby or OV etc etc in the Conference, then it is to play in a secondary role in a middle of the line-up against the middle of the oppositions lines and not be overwhelmed and not bringing down the line your on.

It appears due to need that he is going to be tossed into the deep end and asked to sink or swim early on and play above his own skillset and abilities. So lets see what happens and if he can hold his own.

 

[saltming]

I've always been a big proponent of "play the kids" because their play come with built in enthusiasm and compete level as they try and make their mark.

At age 26 to start this season Bunting isn't your typical 20 year old player just starting out by have 6 seasons 325 AHL games under his belt. Lots of career minor leaguers have come up situationally, then flashed and then gone as fast as they came. So I'm taking a more wait and see what happens approach here.

What I do like about Bunting most is his style of play, high energy and not afraid to go into the heavy traffic areas, take and hit to make a play and his work hard and is often rewarded for that effort, and he want's to play a 200ft game making sure he isn't a defensive liability. That makes his game more transferable to become an NHL regular that is either all offense or all defense.

That said in a perfect world you would ideally like to break him in on a 3rd line play him alongside a Mikheyev and Kerfoot and let him establish himself against lower level opposition and let him get his feet wet, where he isn't a focal point.

However Leafs have 2 glaring holes on the left side on on lines #1 and #2 in the top 6 to fill because of departures so the expectations of a player with 26 total NHL games under his belt is going to high, to hit the ground running and immediately contribute. Playing in the top 6 means you likely are also playing against the better QofC of the opposition and its a lot different lining up beside AM and MM and going up against the Perfection line or Point/Kucherov line or Barkov within the Div or even against Crosby or OV etc etc in the Conference, then it is to play in a secondary role in a middle of the line-up against the middle of the oppositions lines and not be overwhelmed and not bringing down the line your on.

It appears due to need that he is going to be tossed into the deep end and asked to sink or swim early on and play above his own skillset and abilities. So lets see what happens and if can hold his own.

I agree but I think he's slotted into the 3rd line, kase and Ritchie will fill to top 6 lw
I'm not expecting any more from bunting than what you just said about his playing style, and I'm glad we have it

 

[Mess]

I agree but I think he's slotted into the 3rd line, kase and Ritchie will fill to top 6 lw
I'm not expecting any more from bunting than what you just said about his playing style, and I'm glad we have it

Bunting and Nylander are from the same draft class of 2014 where Willy went top 10 overall and Bunting the middle of the 4th round.

Nylander has 358 NHL games to his name and 75 AHL games and Bunting has 325 AHL games and 26 NHL games to his name.

These players have very different skillsets and talent levels, experience and should be viewed as such.

However I get the impression that expectations are high and that simply tossing Bunting out on a top 6 line is going to get him to play and perform as a top 6 level qualified player would, and that is going to replace a player like Hyman without skipping a beat. There is a valid reason why Hyman is now making $5.5 mil and scheduled to play top line beside McDavid, and why Bunting is making only $950k but asked to fill big shoes.

PS. Pierre Engvall is also from Nylander's draft class and he has 90 NHL games under his belt and 15-12-27 NHL points and still trying to establish himself as an NHLer and on the bubble at the moment and trying to make it as 4th liner only.

 

[Gallagbi]

I agree but I think he's slotted into the 3rd line, kase and Ritchie will fill to top 6 lw
I'm not expecting any more from bunting than what you just said about his playing style, and I'm glad we have it

Has Kase played his off wing before?

 

[saltming]

Bunting and Nylander are from the same draft class of 2014 where Willy went top 10 overall and Bunting the middle of the 4th round.

Nylander has 358 NHL games to his name and 75 AHL games and Bunting has 325 AHL games and 26 NHL games to his name.

These players have very different skillsets and talent levels, experience and should be viewed as such.

However I get the impression that expectations are high and that simply tossing Bunting out on a top 6 line is going to get him to play and perform as a top 6 level qualified player would, and that is going to replace a player like Hyman without skipping a beat. There is a valid reason why Hyman is now making $5.5 mil and scheduled to play top line beside McDavid, and why Bunting is making only $950k but asked to fill big shoes.

PS. Pierre Engvall is also from Nylander's draft class and he has 90 NHL games under his belt and 15-12-27 NHL points and still trying to establish himself as an NHLer and on the bubble a the moment and trying to make it as 4th liner only.

Why do you think bunting will get to 6 duties when we also signed Ritchie and kase?

 

[saltming]

Has Kase played his off wing before?

I do not think so. Good point that I didn't think of.

 

[Coachcorner]

We are a much harder team no doubts. It will be fun hearing 4 lines forechecking

That is actually also true. Rarely do we get to see this sentence nowadays anymore in toronto..... those old teams were different. This is a new change for us and I am also waiting to see it and exhale at the same time. This is going to be a very exciting season I'm sure. Hopefully one of our goalies can stay healthy too sire. I was just looking at mrazek's every season and he hasn't played not one season healthy. Every year he has had some injuries. Even concussions and groin injuries. Every single year I checked it hard.

 

[Cor]

Why do you think bunting will get to 6 duties when we also signed Ritchie and kase?

If I had to guess Kase will be on Kampf’s right side on the third line, I think with Kerfoot on the left.

Ritchie and Bunting will take the top two LW slots.

Simmonds, Spezza, and Mikheyev make up the fourth line.

maybe you have Kampf on Line 4, and Mikheyev with Kerfoot and Kase.

 

[saltming]

That is actually also true. Rarely do we get to see this sentence nowadays anymore in toronto..... those old teams were different. This is a new change for us and I am also waiting to see it and exhale at the same time. This is going to be a very exciting season I'm sure. Hopefully one of our goalies can stay healthy too sire. I was just looking at mrazek's every season and he hasn't played not one season healthy. Every year he has had some injuries. Even concussions and groin injuries. Every single year I checked it hard.

Agreed that our goaltending is the big question mark.
Let's see some load management with the tendies

 

[saltming]

If I had to guess Kase will be on Kampf’s right side on the third line, I think with Kerfoot on the left.

Ritchie and Bunting will take the top two LW slots.

Simmonds, Spezza, and Mikheyev make up the fourth line.

maybe you have Kampf on Line 4, and Mikheyev with Kerfoot and Kase.

Ya I wasn't thinking that kase is a rightie

 

[Stonehands1990]

If I had to guess Kase will be on Kampf’s right side on the third line, I think with Kerfoot on the left.

Ritchie and Bunting will take the top two LW slots.

Simmonds, Spezza, and Mikheyev make up the fourth line.

maybe you have Kampf on Line 4, and Mikheyev with Kerfoot and Kase.

This is how I see Keefe utilizing them. I’d personally spread the talent across 3 lines but Keefe seems to love his top 6 bottom 6

Ritchie-Matthews-Marner
Kerfoot-Tavares-Nylander
Bunting-Kampf-Kase
Mikeyhev-Spezza-Simmonds

 

[ottomaddox]

Before Bunting Mania starts this season can we reflect on his 26 Career NHL games.

Many fans are making a lot of Jack Campbell's 86 NHL starts, nothing about Bunting? How is it that he deserves to be in the top 6 on TOR?

Some fans have him playing along side Matthews and Marner.

What gives?

 

[zeke]

Before Bunting Mania starts this season can we reflect on his 26 Career NHL games.

Many fans are making a lot of Jack Campbell's 86 NHL starts, nothing about Bunting? How is it that he deserves to be in the top 6 on TOR?

Some fans have him playing along side Matthews and Marner.

What gives?

The beauty of having matthews/marner and tavares/Nylander is that the 3rd wheel can be pretty much anyone that clicks. And it's likely better to use lesser players on those lines and let more complete players drive a 3rd line.

 

[Carltons Cup]

Has Kase played his off wing before?

I'm almost skeptical to pencil Kase into the lineup given his injury history.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Before Bunting Mania starts this season can we reflect on his 26 Career NHL games.

Many fans are making a lot of Jack Campbell's 86 NHL starts, nothing about Bunting? How is it that he deserves to be in the top 6 on TOR?

Some fans have him playing along side Matthews and Marner.

What gives?

Is there a better option to be in the top 6

 

[Ashdown2]

its going to be LW by committee ..... and i dont see anything wrong with that ...
and as someone already mentioned, whoever it is is just going to be a 3rd wheel and need to be good defensively and not be a liability 90% of the time (cough cough vesey and galchyuk cough cough)

who knowns maybe bunting will grab the opportunity by the horns and run with it. its going to be very exciting to see what pans out ..

 

[Menzinger]

Before Bunting Mania starts this season can we reflect on his 26 Career NHL games.

Many fans are making a lot of Jack Campbell's 86 NHL starts, nothing about Bunting? How is it that he deserves to be in the top 6 on TOR?

Some fans have him playing along side Matthews and Marner.

What gives?

Hyman at just 16 career NHL games before his first full rookie season where he started alongside Matthews.


Like with any gamble it either works or it doesn't. Can't find out unless you play the guy

 

[Reydin]

Depending on JT's knees I would like to see the Leafs try Tavares-Nylander-Kase. See what Willy can do for an extended period in the middle. Just in case you know 3 years from now. I'm assuming Ritchie plays with M & M. I would like to see Bunting with Kerfoot and Kampf.