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

[LeafsNation75]

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.

In my opinion the trip on him looked no different than the hooking penalty called on Tavares earlier in the 3rd period.

 

[RunItBackAgain]

In my opinion the trip on him looked no different than the hooking penalty called on Tavares earlier in the 3rd period.

Agreed, which also shouldn't have been a penalty imo. Unfortunately it's impossible to take bias out of the refs. I just don't see a logical solution to the issue unless there is a change to the foundation of the way the games are called. And that won't even be discussed

 

[Antropovsky]

Must be hard to be Bunting... Care so much and compete so hard but be totally alone.

 

[robertmac43]

After last night, i doubt we see an apology lol.

 

[ITM]

Think about apologizing after the season.

Focus on the season and not if, how, when, where, why you might possibly, plausibly, accidentally, incidentally inflict an unintended or intended, minor, major, psychological , physical, temporary or permanent injury or offense to the refs, players (your own or the other team), coach staff, support staff, arena staff, concessions staff, security or the paying or non-paying audience...or the loyal fan watching or reading or hearing about said offense...or the occasional hockey fan, or newly introduced non-hockey fan...

...just...play the game to win.

 

[PROUD PAPA]

It's come full circle for Bunting. He used to draw penalties like mad but now it appears the officials consider him a diver type and many infractions committed against him are simply ignored. I also believe they consider him a pain in their asses and are all too happy to make chintzy calls against him. It's not how they should act as it's rather petty but human nature exists and it's flaws often rise to the surface.
Whether you like Bunting or not it's easy to see that his current relationship with the officials is a losing proposition.

 

[IPS]

It's come full circle for Bunting. He used to draw penalties like mad but now it appears the officials consider him a diver type and many infractions committed against him are simply ignored. I also believe they consider him a pain in their asses and are all too happy to make chintzy calls against him. It's not how they should act as it's rather petty but human nature exists and it's flaws often rise to the surface.
Whether you like Bunting or not it's easy to see that his current relationship with the officials is a losing proposition.

Literally the exact same story with Kadri. You can never be that type of player in this market.

If he went to Boston everything would be absolved and he'd be back to the penalty drawing pest that everyone hates.

 

[LeafsNation75]

Literally the exact same story with Kadri. You can never be that type of player in this market.

If he went to Boston everything would be absolved and he'd be back to the penalty drawing pest that everyone hates.

Is that because Bunting was once fined $2,000 for diving/embellishment?

Using the Boston example do the refs still no longer give the benefit of the doubt to Brad Marchand, who has got that same fine as Bunting.

 

[keonsbitterness]

He's at the point where he needs to stop the antics and just play.

 

[LeafsNation75]

He's at the point where he needs to stop the antics and just play.

Even though against Boston he was right to complain about the blood on his face, did Bunting deserve this 2:00 minute penalty for Unsportsmanlike Conduct? The ref could have easily given the same penalty to Mathieu Olivier not just Bunting.



Also, I don't remember him going crazy at the refs when this trip on him wasn't called.

 

[Hellcat]

it appears somebody with a corner office had a convo with Bunting .. its not often you hear a player publicly state he is going to apologize to the refs for his reaction to them missing a call. Must be pretty bad what he said to them to get that sort of blowback.

 

[LeafLoyalist]

Let's put this in perspective...referees are human and make mistakes, just like the players do and the players are making millions...would Bunting be ok if Keefe ripped every player everytime they miss an assignment, cause a turnover, etc. As fans ya we have the right to be upset with the refs, but you are a professional athlete, making millions, have respect for everyone else on the ice. In addition, i believe Bunting has built a reputation of a diver and embellisher, and he has the knack to try to get calls when they are not there, far too many times the referees have seen that, so now they are cautious in making a questionable call when #58 is involved. He should just move on and play the game, do your job and let the refs do theirs...there are plenty of times he's messed up, wonder if it would be ok if Keefe slid down the bench and yelled in his face. He needs to mature...

 

[therealkoho]

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.

Did I say anything about Az? No I did not.

it appears somebody with a corner office had a convo with Bunting .. its not often you hear a player publicly state he is going to apologize to the refs for his reaction to them missing a call. Must be pretty bad what he said to them to get that sort of blowback.

Is it possible Bunts was trolling?

I have yet to hear or read his apology unless I missed it.

 

[LeafsNation75]

Is it possible Bunts was trolling?

I have yet to hear or read his apology unless I missed it.

I don't know if you saw the link I posted in the OP, but here it is again where Bunting says he was going to do that. So, I don't think he was trolling.

NHL Videos - Highlights and Analysis from the National Hockey League

Watch highlights and analysis video from the National Hockey League. TSN's NHL Insiders and analysts deliver video content, betting information, and fantasy hockey advice.

www.tsn.ca

 

[LeafsNation75]

Let's put this in perspective...referees are human and make mistakes, just like the players do and the players are making millions...would Bunting be ok if Keefe ripped every player everytime they miss an assignment, cause a turnover, etc. As fans ya we have the right to be upset with the refs, but you are a professional athlete, making millions, have respect for everyone else on the ice. In addition, i believe Bunting has built a reputation of a diver and embellisher, and he has the knack to try to get calls when they are not there, far too many times the referees have seen that, so now they are cautious in making a questionable call when #58 is involved. He should just move on and play the game, do your job and let the refs do theirs...there are plenty of times he's messed up, wonder if it would be ok if Keefe slid down the bench and yelled in his face. He needs to mature...

I said this before, and I will say it again. If the refs miss a clear and obvious high sticking call on Bunting like the one against Detroit, missed calls happen. However, as I have shown since that specific game there was other more examples of the refs not giving Bunting the benefit of the doubt on other clear and obvious penalties against him that should have been called. So, in my opinion something like that is becoming a trend in a negative way.

Also, when have we seen the linesman physically remove any players off the ice during a scrum? I bring that up because that also happened to Bunting, which was before these recent missed calls against him.

 

[therealkoho]

I said this before, and I will say it again. If the refs miss a clear and obvious high sticking call on Bunting like the one against Detroit, missed calls happen. However, as I have shown since that specific game there was other more examples of the refs not giving Bunting the benefit of the doubt on other clear and obvious penalties against him that should have been called. So, in my opinion something like that is becoming a trend in a negative way.

Also, when have we seen the linesman physically remove any players off the ice during a scrum? I bring that up because that also happened to Bunting, which was before these recent missed calls against him.

Is there not a rule that a high stick can be not only called by a linesman, but also be reviewed especially in cases where blood is drawn.

 

[LeafLoyalist]

I said this before, and I will say it again. If the refs miss a clear and obvious high sticking call on Bunting like the one against Detroit, missed calls happen. However, as I have shown since that specific game there was other more examples of the refs not giving Bunting the benefit of the doubt on other clear and obvious penalties against him that should have been called. So, in my opinion something like that is becoming a trend in a negative way.

Also, when have we seen the linesman physically remove any players off the ice during a scrum? I bring that up because that also happened to Bunting, which was before these recent missed calls against him.

As you can see what the common denominator is here, he needs to build that trust back with the refs, by going off like a whiny baby on National TV yelling at the refs, has made matters worse. If i'm a coach i need to deal with that because it's hurting the team, in my opinion. Be a grumpy fan as you please and complain about the officiating, the Leafs arent the only team in the NHL who have issues with the refs, heck, let's consider all leagues....EVERY sports team has had and will continue to not be happy with officiating. What Bunting has done has impacted himself and the team in a negative way. If you want to keep whining to the refs, then go ahead, but it WILL make matters worse. he needs to stop flopping and looking back at the refs, best way to get a call is keep moving your feet and stay focused.

 

[LeafsNation75]

Is there not a rule that a high stick can be not only called by a linesman, but also be reviewed especially in cases where blood is drawn.

I think they can advise the refs in a situation like that, assuming they saw a penalty happen with blood being drawn and the refs not calling a penalty on that play.

 

[Blanche Blanche]

So the refs f*** up (probably intentionally) multiple times, player gets mad, and player apologizes ?

Authoritarianism at its finest…

 

[Hellcat]

I said this before, and I will say it again. If the refs miss a clear and obvious high sticking call on Bunting like the one against Detroit, missed calls happen. However, as I have shown since that specific game there was other more examples of the refs not giving Bunting the benefit of the doubt on other clear and obvious penalties against him that should have been called. So, in my opinion something like that is becoming a trend in a negative way.

Also, when have we seen the linesman physically remove any players off the ice during a scrum? I bring that up because that also happened to Bunting, which was before these recent missed calls against him.

Anyone know how refs are held accountable, is there a merit system that affects their ability to work in the playoffs? Are the really bad ones fired? Who is NHL's Angel Hernandez?

 

[Azazel]

Anyone know how refs are held accountable, is there a merit system that affects their ability to work in the playoffs? Are the really bad ones fired? Who is NHL's Angel Hernandez?

Stephen Walkom is the person in charge of officiating, hes supposed to discipline the officials when they screw things up. He is corrupt as hell, and if you dont believe me, check out the Dean Warren court case. It exposes emails between colin campbell (walkoms boss) and walkom where they berate certain players, make disparaging remarks about officials not calling "the dirty rat" then discuss how they can fire that ref for not calling things the way campbell and walkom want. Its pretty eye opening. Despite the emails coming out the league decided it was fine and walkom and campbell could keep their jobs.

 

[ULF_55]

Is this after the ref apologizes for ignoring the butt end to his face?

 

[Cleetus]

Is this after the ref apologizes for ignoring the butt end to his face?

or when the linesman pushed him? lol

 

[LeafsNation75]

Is this after the ref apologizes for ignoring the butt end to his face?

It was after Bunting got the butt end of the stick to his face.

or when the linesman pushed him? lol

That linesman was Dan Kelly and when he was a player in the AHL, he gave a head shot on Andreas Johnson, giving him a concussion.

 

[LeafsNation75]

Anyone know how refs are held accountable, is there a merit system that affects their ability to work in the playoffs? Are the really bad ones fired? Who is NHL's Angel Hernandez?

I don't know if they are at the level of Angel Hernandez, however there are two refs in my opinion that I hated when they are in Leafs games is Graham Skilliter and Wes McCauley.

In the 2021 season because of the Canadian division, Skilliter was apart of a lot of Leafs games and this specific game against the Oilers stands out. The reason is some questionable penalties he called on Toronto and Edmonton tied it with back to back power play goals, after being down 2-0.



In Game 7 against Tampa Bay, it was Wes McCauley who called the interference penalty on Justin Holl, which negated a game tying goal from John Tavares. Earlier this season when Toronto was playing in St. Louis, the exact same play happened against Jordie Benn, however McCauley didn't call a penalty and the Blues scored right after that to tie the game. Later on in the 3rd period Aston-Reese got a high stick and was bleeding, however no penalty was called. This is what caused Sheldon Keefe to get fined $25,000.