Michael Bunting plans to apologize to the refs for his outburst during the game against Boston

[Bomber0104]

I'd be pretty incenced if I was drawing only half the penalties I was entitled to.

That's for the captains and coaching staff to handle in a better, more tactful way then screaming, yelling, gesutre-making, etc. at the refs that he frequently hides behind after he gets into his jersey-grabbing / stick-work scuffles.

Put aside the supposed Leafs bias, how do you expect any ref to respect the way this individual player plays, quite honestly?

 

[Brobust]

That's for the captains and coaching staff to handle, in a better way then screaming, yelling, gesutre-making, etc. at the refs that he then hides behind after he gets into his jersey grabbing scuffles.

Has that worked?

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

If Keefe really benched Matthews because of some comments, do you really think he would still be the Leafs coach today?

Since he had wrist surgery that offseason and missed the first three games of the 2021-22 season, I'm sure that was the reason he missed that one game in January 2021.

There was another game Matthews missed in the 2021 season against Edmonton on March 1, 2021 because of his wrist, so what do you have to say about that?

Matthews out for Maple Leafs against Oilers again | NHL.com

Forward was game-time decision, wrist injury keeps him out for second straight at Edmonton

www.nhl.com

If he had an injury you would think there would have been an injury report issued instead of just saying he was too sore to play.

But you're probably right.

Matthews and was called down to the coaches office to discuss his sore body. The RubA5-35 wasn't getting the soreness out. Keefe told him to take some Absorbing Jr. and go home.

Don't worry about the game.

That makes way more sense than him getting benched for a game for calling out Keefe in the media.

 

[Bomber0104]

Has that worked?

Ask Crosby.

Reputation shifted with the refs after a degree of maturing.

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

I sometimes dream about what the Leafs would get back, the cupboards would be full to the brim

If Knies joins the team and makes any kind of impact at all any kind, that fills a huge hole

From what I've been seeing so far this year, I think Willie is almost ready to take on a centres role full time,

Fraser Minten although 2-3 years away, is playing like a man and looks like with a little spit and polish at the A level that he might be a really well rounded 3C

The Leafs have some real options

They wouldn't get back a Matthews.

They could trade Matthews for Arizona's best six players and they still wouldn't get good value in return.

The proof: How much Arizona sucks

There is no reason to believe any of those guys would do any better here. They would still stink. Just in a Maple Leafs uniform is all.

Matthews would still be scoring a bunch of goals every year though is my guess.

 

[Brobust]

Ask Crosby.

Reputation shifted with the refs after a degree of maturing.

Seriously using Crosby as an example?

 

[Bomber0104]

Seriously using Crosby as an example?

It's the easiest and most common of examples.

With less than two NHL seasons under his belt at age 27, there is definitely still time for maturity to set in.

 

[Brobust]

It's the easiest and most common of examples.

With less than two NHL seasons under his belt at age 27, there is definitely still time for maturity to set in.

I meant that Crosby had his fair share of tantrums.

All were well deserved, btw.

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

The Bunting outburst has been heavily criticized, and for good reason, you're not going to gain any favours acting like that to an official.

This isn't the first time either.

In the Detroit game Bunting was hammered in front of the net by Chiarot, and two handed cross-check that should have been penalized but wasn't.

The hit was hard enough to knock Bunting's helmet off.

Bunting got up and was yelling at the refs, cursing them "Are you f***ing kidding me. F*** you. Why do you think my helmet came off?"

The game prior to that in Nashville Morgan Rielly was hit with a crosscheck that left him bloodied. The referee was standing right there and made didn't call a penalty. Rielly got up and call the referee a "f***ING idiot". Only because Rielly was pouring blood did the penalty get called.

Then there was the incident with Keefe freaking out on the bench over the non-call to ZAR.

I understand the players frustrations, but if they want the bad calls to stop, and the right calls to start, swearing at the referees and freaking out on the bench is not the right way to go about it.

 

[Bomber0104]

I meant that Crosby had his fair share of tantrums.

All were well deserved, btw.

And as I said, after he matured so did the respect from the refs and fans.

No idea what you're watching with Bunting, but goading a pretty mellow guy like Charlie Coyle. then hiding behind the refs afterwards, and then screaming at them later on in the game because of a missed call....

Not a good look.

I don't know how his own teammates could respect that let alone the refs....

No idea why the captains and coaching staff don't sit him down and take over either...

You feel bad for him though..

Kinda says it all.

 

[Brobust]

And as I said, after he matured so did the respect from the refs and fans.

No idea what you're watching with Bunting, but goading a pretty mellow guy like Charlie Coyle. then hiding behind the refs afterwards, and then screaming at them later on in the game because of a missed call....

Not a good look.

I don't know how his own teammates could respect that let alone the refs....

No idea why the captains and coaching staff don't sit him down and take over either...

You feel bad for him though..

Kinda says it all.

I have no idea what your watching but Bunting invites and absorbs a lot of punishment each shift. There's a ton of holding at least.

 

[nsleaf]

Sorry, not sorry.

 

[Niagara Bill]

I have no idea what your watching but Bunting invites and absorbs a lot of punishment each shift. There's a ton of holding at least.

Yes he does, and he is seen as deserving it for his mouth, just like Tucker, Avery, Claude Lemieux.
Players and refs hate guys who yap and then refuse to defend themselves. If they get the call they laugh from a safe distance and the ref feels used. If the ref doesn't call it, they say you deserved it.
Bunting, STFU.
The next time he laughs at another player, his own team mate should slap him. He creates hate emotion the Leafs have to overcome.

 

[The Hanging Jowl]

I'll never understand how professional athletes keep their cool 99.9% of the time. Bunting was right, they were intentionally ignoring obvious infractions because of the reputation he's building. His reaction was very reserved and mature compared to how I would have lost my shit. I guess that's what makes them pros and me a keyboard jockey. All that said, yeah, just apologize. Give them what they want and take what you need from them in the future. They have the power, what can ya do?

 

[notbias]

The Leafs fans that want emotion out of the team sure do criticize emotion a lot.

He got emotional, it'd be nice if he could control that better but he is apologizing to someone for making a mistake, I'd rather have that mature attitude than someone not owning up to a mistake.

 

[Gilmour1996]

I wouldn't apologize for jack **** , even if my boss's boss's boss asked me to.

 

[Christ]

So when do the refs apologize for the BS that they allow the Bruins to get away with on a nightly basis?

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

The Leafs fans that want emotion out of the team sure do criticize emotion a lot.

He got emotional, it'd be nice if he could control that better but he is apologizing to someone for making a mistake, I'd rather have that mature attitude than someone not owning up to a mistake.

The problem is that it isn't the right emotion and he is taking it out on the refs and not the other team.

Bunting has a big mouth. He's not willing to back it up. Until he's willing to punch someone in their stupid ugly face and take a few back, he shouldn't be yelling and swearing at the refs.

This is hockey.

Bunting needs to lay down the law if he doesn't like the way the officials are calling it.

 

[Gilmour1996]

I think Bobby Clarke had problems with the reffing too but that didn't stop him being a big mouth. Neither did he fight most of the battles he started and I don't recall him apologizing to the refs. He has been quite successful being his own man. Lots of players in the league today who act the same. Refs should be apologizing to every player in the league for their incompetence, biases and their thin skins and players/fans should not encourage meekness of player character which may result in the opposite of their intentions. Better that players stand up for what they believe in rather than cower like a wilting flower. That being said he should tone down what he says to the refs but keep up what he says to other players IMHO. Make him Captain like Bobby Clarke so he'll be cut more slack!

 

[LeafsNation75]

The Bunting outburst has been heavily criticized, and for good reason, you're not going to gain any favours acting like that to an official.

This isn't the first time either.

In the Detroit game Bunting was hammered in front of the net by Chiarot, and two handed cross-check that should have been penalized but wasn't.

The hit was hard enough to knock Bunting's helmet off.

Bunting got up and was yelling at the refs, cursing them "Are you f***ing kidding me. F*** you. Why do you think my helmet came off?"

The game prior to that in Nashville Morgan Rielly was hit with a crosscheck that left him bloodied. The referee was standing right there and made didn't call a penalty. Rielly got up and call the referee a "f***ING idiot". Only because Rielly was pouring blood did the penalty get called.

Then there was the incident with Keefe freaking out on the bench over the non-call to ZAR.

I understand the players frustrations, but if they want the bad calls to stop, and the right calls to start, swearing at the referees and freaking out on the bench is not the right way to go about it.

You seem forget prior to Rielly getting high sticked there was that play when David Kampf got hit in the head by Nino Niederreiter which should have been an interference penalty, and you can argue an extra penalty for an illegal check to the head. However, neither penalty was called at that time.



After Rielly got high sticked and with the ref standing right in front of him when that happened, he didn't call the penalty right away. Instead, the refs and linesman got together to discuss what everyone saw. On a penalty like that is something they don't need to be doing.

The problem is that it isn't the right emotion and he is taking it out on the refs and not the other team.

Bunting has a big mouth. He's not willing to back it up. Until he's willing to punch someone in their stupid ugly face and take a few back, he shouldn't be yelling and swearing at the refs.

This is hockey.

Bunting needs to lay down the law if he doesn't like the way the officials are calling it.

How would you feel if multiple times in the same season you had sticks hitting your face, however each time there wasn't any penalties called, and you were also bleeding because of that? This the NHL and it's not the WWE, so Bunting didn't use a blade to cut himself hoping to get a 4:00 power play.

 

[Larcos_Unal]

You didn't know?

Here's the article:

Auston Matthews Criticizes Sheldon Keefe’s Coaching
By Danny Silver, January 21, 2021

nhltraderumors . me/2021/01/auston-matthews-criticizes-sheldon

Exactly one year later to the date Sheldon Keefe makes his "soft and purposeless" comment and is forced to dial it back

Trusting an unconnected blogger as a source is like trusting your uncle Gary when he starts making up trade rumours after he drinks a 24.

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

You seem forget prior to Rielly getting high sticked there was that play when David Kampf got hit in the head by Nino Niederreiter which should have been an interference penalty, and you can argue an extra penalty for an illegal check to the head. However, neither penalty was called at that time.



After Rielly got high sticked and with the ref standing right in front of him when that happened, he didn't call the penalty right away. Instead, the refs and linesman got together to discuss what everyone saw. On a penalty like that is something they don't need to be doing.

How would you feel if multiple times in the same season you had sticks hitting your face, however each time there wasn't any penalties called, and you were also bleeding because of that? This the NHL and it's not the WWE, so Bunting didn't use a blade to cut himself hoping to get a 4:00 power play.

So what are you trying to say?

I have to remember every non-call? I don't see your point. I also said the call against Rielly wasn't made until after the fact. For some reason you just ignore that.

Every player has multiple plays go uncalled against all season long. Not just the Leafs.

But thanks for your contribution and valuable insight. I'm so glad to know that players get calls that don't go their way. That's good reason to have a hissy a hissy fit and yell at the refs. Acting like a million dollar baby on national tv.

How would you like it if you show up to do your job and every time you make a call on a player some mouthpiece is yelling at you and calling you names, even when you are right?

i guess you never thought of the refs side, who take more abuse from the players than the other way around.

I wouldn't expect it from you though

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

So what are you trying to say?

I have to remember every non-call? I don't see your point. I also said the call against Rielly wasn't made until after the fact. For some reason you just ignore that.

Every player has multiple plays go uncalled against all season long. Not just the Leafs.

But thanks for your contribution and valuable insight. I'm so glad to know that players get calls that don't go their way. That's good reason to have a hissy a hissy fit and yell at the refs. Acting like a million dollar baby on national tv.

How would you like it if you show up to do your job and every time you make a call on a player some mouthpiece is yelling at you and calling you names, even when you are right?

i guess you never thought of the refs side, who take more abuse from the players than the other way around.

I wouldn't expect it from you though

Keefe set the exple.with his outburst on the bench.

After that was the outbursts by Rielly, followed by the ones by Bunting.

Maybe if Keefe hasd shown more decorum on the bench instead of having his little "wah wah" fit then the players would be have been a bit more restrained.

It certainly didn't appear as though containing Bunting was a priority for Keefe.

It's almost like Keefe told his guys "well they aren't calling things anyway, may as well act like babies".

If he didn't actually say it, his actions did.

 

[LeafsNation75]

After tonight Bunting should forget about apologizing to the refs.

When was the last time any player no matter the team got 2:00 for unsportsmanlike conduct for talking back with another player?



Plus, here was him getting tripped which should was a clear and obvious penalty, and the refs choose not to call a penalty on Columbus.

 

[RunItBackAgain]

After tonight Bunting should forget about apologizing to the refs.

When was the last time any player no matter the team got 2:00 for unsportsmanlike conduct for talking back with another player?



Plus, here was him getting tripped which should was a clear and obvious penalty, and the refs choose not to call a penalty on Columbus.

He put his hand too close to the CBJ players face in the first clip and pushed with such force he could've broken multiple bones.

But seriously ya horrible call, but the second clip was a nothingburger. He was trying to draw one there.