Michael Bunting suspended three games

[All Mod Cons]

I just don't think you can out him in if the series is tied, or we are up. If we go down 3-2 or tied at 3-3 then there's a conversation to be had.

Maybe game one of the second round if we somehow manage to make it.

 

[wingman75]

I am not sure he brings anything over and above what we already have.

Too risky imo. I mean, he doesn't even have to do anything to get called for a penalty and if he does do something he is not getting the benefit of the doubt.

He overplayed his card, and now there is no ink left on it.

 

[Ianturnedbull]

You're all right about Bunting:

Too risky

 

[Morlu]

Bunting definitely comes back in for Lafferty. On a short leash though.

 

[Racer88]

ZAR and Lafferty were small parts of both victories, and were arguably worse in Game 3 than Bunting was in Game 1.

I agree from the standpoint of actual on ice contributions but from a distraction and upped ref bias against when he on the ice it’s a big problem. One that he has created for himself

 

[TheGroceryStick]

If we win game 4, leave Bunting in the press box.

I think that's the correct answer
Give the boys a chance to close it out without him...reassess after.

Put him back in when someone should be coming out , sorry Michael.

 

[ToneDog]

I think that's the correct answer
Give the boys a chance to close it out without him...reassess after.

Put him back in when someone should be coming out , sorry Michael.

He won't be playing for almost 2 weeks in that case. Fact is Bunts put up over 100 points in 2 seasons and is our best threat after the big 5. You gotta put him back in with JT and Willie but you have to tell him to tone it down. As good as Knies looks, he probably sits unless you sit Kerfoot, ZAR or Lafferty.

 

[TMLAM34]

He won't be playing for almost 2 weeks in that case. Fact is Bunts put up over 100 points in 2 seasons and is our best threat after the big 5. You gotta put him back in with JT and Willie but you have to tell him to tone it down. As good as Knies looks, he probably sits unless you sit Kerfoot, ZAR or Lafferty.

Jarnkrok - Matthews - Marner
Bunting - Tavares - Nylander
Knies - O’Reilly - Kerfoot
Aston Reese - Kampf - Acciari
Lafferty

 

[ITM]

Sounding like a broken record here, but why isn't Pontus Holmberg part of the consideration rather the constant either/or of Lafferty vs Bunting?

He's skilled. Good skater. Drama-free. Seems the perfect compromise.

 

[Kyle089]

I would keep Bunting out of the lineup, too much of a distraction. If he does get back in, put him on the 4th line, keep him out of the top 6. He doesn't need to be potentially getting Matthews, Marner, Tavares and Nylander involved in a scrum because of his antics.

 

[ACC1224]

I would keep Bunting out of the lineup, too much of a distraction. If he does get back in, put him on the 4th line, keep him out of the top 6. He doesn't need to be potentially getting Matthews, Marner, Tavares and Nylander involved in a scrum because of his antics.

...but if Matthews isn't there who do they have to pick up the sticks?

 

[Zybalto]

The more I think about this, the crazier the stupid narratives get as the Kadri situation gets played out right in front of us again and it's us, the fans, and the clueless masochistic media that drives the message home. Its like deja vu all over again.

Until the middle of this season, Bunting was seen as a valuable superpest a la Marchand that had a great scoring touch on an insanely good contract but all of a sudden, the switch flipped and there seemed to be a crusade against him as apparently one of the dirtiest players in the league. The guy was literally getting manhandled by the refs and hit pieces started to appear all over the media about him despite other teams having similar players.

We all watched Kadri get run out of town in disgrace after his last game was one of the worst reffed games I've ever seen with Debrusk trying to end his career with an unpenalized intentional knee and hurting his teammates all over the ice but all we saw was the retaliation.

Heres the dirtiest play from Kadri's last game (uncalled of course):



Whats even worse is seeing the same hypocrates that ran him outta town slamming the team for getting rid of a heart and soul guy like him in the first place and pretending like they didnt even call for it. I remember. Did anyone in the Toronto media stand up for Kadri after that knee? Nope.

Now we have another heart and soul player in Bunting being abused all over the ice with the refs with a clear agenda against him again and he's not allowed to defend himself? He never even had a history and didnt do what he did for no reason. The refs were straight up allowing Tampa to take cheapshots at him that game. "No Bias" indeed.

Screw it. I'm not going to just accept the bullcrap narrative and Bunting has had time to think here and he goes back in as his usual superpest but just don't retaliate. Just take it out on the other team on the scoreboard. The refs are against him? Tell me something I didnt already know.

Hows this hit stack up with Cliffords last year:



The only reason thats not a 5 minute and a game + a suspension is because they chose not to call it and we all bend over and take it right? It's almost literally the same hit.

Seriously:

Total 5v5 points the last 2 seasons:

1. Matthews
2. Marner
3. Bunting
4. Nylander
5. Tavares

Total 5v5 goals the last 2 seasons:

1. Matthews
2. Nylander
3. Marner
4. Bunting
5. Tavares

Bunting is one of the best secondary scoring options on this team on a team that has lacked this in the past (he was hurt last seasons playoffs so It would be nice to see him healthy).

Put him back on the first line where he belongs and how about we call out the bias instead of just accepting it like sheep.

...and if the refs do make a mess of things, how about the Toronto media actually grow a pair and call it out instead of constantly bashing their own team. I assure you, Tampa and Boston don't have this problem in the slightest. If that was any Leaf instead of Maroon who threw that hit last game, would the refs have called it? You know all the talk at intermission would be about a possible suspension for (insert Leafs player).

"rant over"

 

[LeafSteel]

I'm sorry, but why is Kerfoot never in the conversation to sit? What has he done this playoffs to merit his place in the lineup set in stone?

ZAR-Kampf-Lafferty, when they have been utilzed properly has done what we need our 4th line to do. They are not expected to score. They are expected to hit, hustle, and not be a liability, which is exactly what they are doing, and until they cease to be effective, it's a line that needs to be left alone. They have been playing well for the last month and changing the line would be a total over-think by Keefe.

While the fashionable thing seems to be to pile on Bunting right now (with him not blameless in his current position), the fact remains that Bunting is a better player than Kerfoot. He has the same hustle and a much better threat to score than Kerfoot is, particularly 5 on 5, but pretty much in every circumstance as well.

Provided Bunting smartens up, we are better with him in the lineup. Reminder that this guy still hasn't played in 200 NHL games yet.

While it would be nuts to put Bunting back with Matthews, I don't see any reason why he can't slot onto O'Rielly and Acciari's line on the 3rd. They are exactly the kind of players that Bunting should be learning from. Hard, smart, physical players who keep their shit together and don't do stupid shit. Great models for him to learn from.

Knies has shown that he not just can handle the NHL game, but that he's also a physical threat to score. Put him with Tavares and Marner for insulation and I think you could see something amazing happen there.

.......... or move Heaven on Earth to ensure that Kerfoot continues to get prime chances to do *uck-all, and not give ourselves the best chance to win. Reality is if Bunting is able to be effective, he is head and shoulders a better player for us than Kerfoot. It's really not even close.

 

[Hellcat]

Sorry about your luck Mike but I've suspended you for 3 more games.

 

[Dayjobdave]

Bunting has been a good player for us but at this point I'm not sure who I would take out for him, and we really don't need the distraction he brings.

 

[notDatsyuk]

The more I think about this, the crazier the stupid narratives get as the Kadri situation gets played out right in front of us again and it's us, the fans, and the clueless masochistic media that drives the message home. Its like deja vu all over again.

Until the middle of this season, Bunting was seen as a valuable superpest a la Marchand that had a great scoring touch on an insanely good contract but all of a sudden, the switch flipped and there seemed to be a crusade against him as apparently one of the dirtiest players in the league. The guy was literally getting manhandled by the refs and hit pieces started to appear all over the media about him despite other teams having similar players.

We all watched Kadri get run out of town in disgrace after his last game was one of the worst reffed games I've ever seen with Debrusk trying to end his career with an unpenalized intentional knee and hurting his teammates all over the ice but all we saw was the retaliation.

Heres the dirtiest play from Kadri's last game (uncalled of course):



Whats even worse is seeing the same hypocrates that ran him outta town slamming the team for getting rid of a heart and soul guy like him in the first place and pretending like they didnt even call for it. I remember. Did anyone in the Toronto media stand up for Kadri after that knee? Nope.

Now we have another heart and soul player in Bunting being abused all over the ice with the refs with a clear agenda against him again and he's not allowed to defend himself? He never even had a history and didnt do what he did for no reason. The refs were straight up allowing Tampa to take cheapshots at him that game. "No Bias" indeed.

Screw it. I'm not going to just accept the bullcrap narrative and Bunting has had time to think here and he goes back in as his usual superpest but just don't retaliate. Just take it out on the other team on the scoreboard. The refs are against him? Tell me something I didnt already know.

Hows this hit stack up with Cliffords last year:



The only reason thats not a 5 minute and a game + a suspension is because they chose not to call it and we all bend over and take it right? It's almost literally the same hit.

Seriously:

Total 5v5 points the last 2 seasons:

1. Matthews
2. Marner
3. Bunting
4. Nylander
5. Tavares

Total 5v5 goals the last 2 seasons:

1. Matthews
2. Nylander
3. Marner
4. Bunting
5. Tavares

Bunting is one of the best secondary scoring options on this team on a team that has lacked this in the past (he was hurt last seasons playoffs so It would be nice to see him healthy).

Put him back on the first line where he belongs and how about we call out the bias instead of just accepting it like sheep.

...and if the refs do make a mess of things, how about the Toronto media actually grow a pair and call it out instead of constantly bashing their own team. I assure you, Tampa and Boston don't have this problem in the slightest. If that was any Leaf instead of Maroon who threw that hit last game, would the refs have called it? You know all the talk at intermission would be about a possible suspension for (insert Leafs player).

"rant over"

That's using two years.

Looking at just this past season, Jarnkrok is ahead of Bunting in goals (in nine fewer games) and ahead in points per 60.

 

[IPS]

The more I think about this, the crazier the stupid narratives get as the Kadri situation gets played out right in front of us again and it's us, the fans, and the clueless masochistic media that drives the message home. Its like deja vu all over again.

Until the middle of this season, Bunting was seen as a valuable superpest a la Marchand that had a great scoring touch on an insanely good contract but all of a sudden, the switch flipped and there seemed to be a crusade against him as apparently one of the dirtiest players in the league. The guy was literally getting manhandled by the refs and hit pieces started to appear all over the media about him despite other teams having similar players.

We all watched Kadri get run out of town in disgrace after his last game was one of the worst reffed games I've ever seen with Debrusk trying to end his career with an unpenalized intentional knee and hurting his teammates all over the ice but all we saw was the retaliation.

Heres the dirtiest play from Kadri's last game (uncalled of course):



Whats even worse is seeing the same hypocrates that ran him outta town slamming the team for getting rid of a heart and soul guy like him in the first place and pretending like they didnt even call for it. I remember. Did anyone in the Toronto media stand up for Kadri after that knee? Nope.

Now we have another heart and soul player in Bunting being abused all over the ice with the refs with a clear agenda against him again and he's not allowed to defend himself? He never even had a history and didnt do what he did for no reason. The refs were straight up allowing Tampa to take cheapshots at him that game. "No Bias" indeed.

Screw it. I'm not going to just accept the bullcrap narrative and Bunting has had time to think here and he goes back in as his usual superpest but just don't retaliate. Just take it out on the other team on the scoreboard. The refs are against him? Tell me something I didnt already know.

Hows this hit stack up with Cliffords last year:



The only reason thats not a 5 minute and a game + a suspension is because they chose not to call it and we all bend over and take it right? It's almost literally the same hit.

Seriously:

Total 5v5 points the last 2 seasons:

1. Matthews
2. Marner
3. Bunting
4. Nylander
5. Tavares

Total 5v5 goals the last 2 seasons:

1. Matthews
2. Nylander
3. Marner
4. Bunting
5. Tavares

Bunting is one of the best secondary scoring options on this team on a team that has lacked this in the past (he was hurt last seasons playoffs so It would be nice to see him healthy).

Put him back on the first line where he belongs and how about we call out the bias instead of just accepting it like sheep.

...and if the refs do make a mess of things, how about the Toronto media actually grow a pair and call it out instead of constantly bashing their own team. I assure you, Tampa and Boston don't have this problem in the slightest. If that was any Leaf instead of Maroon who threw that hit last game, would the refs have called it? You know all the talk at intermission would be about a possible suspension for (insert Leafs player).

"rant over"

Amazing post Zybalto. I've been saying a lot of the same things you said in this post for awhile now - just not as eloquently and articulate as you put it here. Would give you a like if I could. This fanbase HAS TO stop throwing players under the bus just because of the talking heads' blatant character assassination.

 

[justashadowof]

...but if Matthews isn't there who do they have to pick up the sticks?

It might have been epic if Stamkos had gone after Matthews and Matthews didn't even bother drop one of the three sticks he was holding as he declined the invitation to "fight."

 

[SprDaVE]

I am not sure he brings anything over and above what we already have.

Too risky imo. I mean, he doesn't even have to do anything to get called for a penalty and if he does do something he is not getting the benefit of the doubt.

He overplayed his card, and now there is no ink left on it.

You easily insert back the 23 goal scorer into the lineup over someone like Lafferty or even ZAR at this rate. Lafferty just hasn't made any sort of impact and keeps losing puck battles.

Bunting is a good player despite the draw back with the refs. I think he's proven that he can adapt and I'm sure he'll be fired up to get back in. He'd go through a brick wall in a lot of games.

 

[Zybalto]

That's using two years.

Looking at just this past season, Jarnkrok is ahead of Bunting in goals (in nine fewer games) and ahead in points per 60.

Wouldn't dream of taking Jarnkrok out either but that has little to do with Bunting not getting back in the lineup.

I swear, is Bunting the "the most sought after free agent next year" or is he too big a risk to even be used in the playoffs? A dreaded beast the likes of Matt Cooke?

...or is a less physical higher scoring Barnaby type guy and the league has singled him out for some reason?

How about our hometown scribes write about that instead of chasing imaginary hotdogs carts.....

 

[ITM]

Amazing post Zybalto. I've been saying a lot of the same things you said in this post for awhile now - just not as eloquently and articulate as you put it here. Would give you a like if I could. This fanbase HAS TO stop throwing players under the bus just because of the talking heads' blatant character assassination.

What is our fight though?

I was one of the first to defend Kadri and I've never relented. I pointed out the bias in that Boston series. I just read Zybalto's piece -- good piece. Tough to argue moreover when I'm on record as having voiced similar obviously outlier discrepancies. Like the Jarnkrok correction that the other member made. Love his inclusion on the team -- would like Holmberg up as well but...

So...Our fight is against perception against a league that has it's particular focus on Toronto for whatever reason.

The difference between Kadri and Bunting apart from skill and toughness (Edge to Nazem x2) is delivery. Bunting is very noticeable. Whether rightly disgruntled or not, he is a neon sign of complaint and drama and his efficiency is predicated on the first line.

So all things being equal, do we have another asset that comes without the rightly or wrongly loaded stigma that Bunting appears to have caught? We do.

Do we have evidence that we're effective without Bunting in the lineup? We do.

So as it stands, we're making a mountain out of molehill when we have others to step in, moreover with the emergence of Knies.

I don't think it's throwing Bunting under the bus by realizing that we're not just playing the Lightning and that AS NEEDS MUST, WE have to accommodate the bias that's outside of our control.

I mean, Game 6 last year -- BUT FOR blatant bias we win. BUT FOR that bias Tampa DOES NOT score and WE WIN.

How does inserting Bunting dismantle that obvious bias? And why is it necessary to do so when we've won without him? We've WON WITHOUT him...Ergo, he is not foundational to winning. And winning -- and make no mistake, we are in the by hook or crook portion of that enterprise -- is all the purpose at hand.

 

[RoadWarrior]

He won't be playing for almost 2 weeks in that case. Fact is Bunts put up over 100 points in 2 seasons and is our best threat after the big 5. You gotta put him back in with JT and Willie but you have to tell him to tone it down. As good as Knies looks, he probably sits unless you sit Kerfoot, ZAR or Lafferty.

He's also the biggest threat to take dumb penalties.

 

[ToneDog]

He's also the biggest threat to take dumb penalties.

He'd have to be spoken to and agree to stop the b.s. He pushes two LWers down and one out. The Bruins have Hall playing on their 3rd line. We'll need Bunts against them.

 

[MSteve]

Anyone saying Bunting doesn't come back in after the suspension is cracked. And there are a lot of them. Who sits is a harder question and although I disagree Knies would come out before Bunting is sat. But hoepfully Keefe will have the sense to sit Lafferty or ZAR.

 

[therealkoho]

Yup, and the league does hate him. We get officiated a lot tighter when he plays. Fair or not, it is what it is. He's always a distraction on the ice, for both teams, officials, fans, everyone.

But hey wait a minute, many people have said and are saying both passionately and with complete belief that officials are completely impartial, never shade their calls, never allow personal feelings to intrude on their professionalism and certainly don't know what the morning line or what the over under might be. Choir boys seem questionable next to them.