Confirmed Trade: [PIT/NSH] Michael Bunting, 2026 4th for Luke Schenn, Tommy Novak

[IcedCapp]

The Pens as a whole have been pretty f***ing bad.

Oh man, really? Why hasn’t anyone noticed this before!? Thanks for letting us know

 

[Darren McCord]

The Pens as a whole have been pretty f***ing bad.

Bunting also has 48 pim min compare to Novaks 4. Not only is he not scoring, he actively hurts the team

 

[Empoleon8771]

The Pens as a whole have been pretty f***ing bad.

Bunting has spent most of this season playing with Crosby or Malkin and he has the same exact 5v5 statline as Max Pacioretty (5 goals and 13 points). Pacioretty has done that in 21 fewer games and about 300 fewer minutes of ice time.

 

[SomeDude]

Bunting is a crappy player, but he at least adds something when he’s playing like a rat which Mike Sullivan wouldn’t tolerate. It wouldn’t surprise me if he is less terrible away from him.

 

[PenguinSuitedUp]

Bunting also has 48 pim min compare to Novaks 4. Not only is he not scoring, he actively hurts the team

And he hits like a pillow about 5 seconds after the play has moved on.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Bunting also has 48 pim min compare to Novaks 4. Not only is he not scoring, he actively hurts the team

That part doesn't surprise me he was a target of the Refs in Toronto so I'm not surprised that's continued

 

[PenguinSuitedUp]

That part doesn't surprise me he was a target of the Refs in Toronto so I'm not surprised that's continued

Michael Bunting, is that you?!

 

[Empoleon8771]

Bunting is a crappy player, but he at least adds something when he’s playing like a rat which Mike Sullivan wouldn’t tolerate. It wouldn’t surprise me if he is less terrible away from him.

Honestly the part that disappointed me the most was how he offered nothing in terms of physicality. He would get into scrums, but he never really played physical and his production sucked.

He was like Max Domi if Max Domi produced like Drew O'Connor.

 

[PenguinSuitedUp]

Honestly the part that disappointed me the most was how he offered nothing in terms of physicality. He would get into scrums, but he never really played physical and his production sucked.

He was like Max Domi if Max Domi produced like Drew O'Connor.

I was definitely expecting some more grit and shenanigans from Bunting.

Frankly, he needs to add 10-20 pounds to be that kind of player anyway.

 

[Mike C]

With what Bunting has regressed into? Yeah he is.

Dude is pretty much just a PP specialist at this point. Over half of his production this year (15 of 29 points) was on the powerplay. For as much as he has played with Malkin, having only 14 EV points in 58 games is atrocious.

Novak has what? 22 total points. 5 on PP. He's decent on faceoffs. Doesn't hit anyone. Bunting had a horrible start. I might say they're close but I still like Bunting better.

Add the age factor in, yes maybe I'd take Novak

 

[SomeDude]

Honestly the part that disappointed me the most was how he offered nothing in terms of physicality. He would get into scrums, but he never really played physical and his production sucked.

He was like Max Domi if Max Domi produced like Drew O'Connor.

He showed a bit of it early, but he got Sullied. Was health bombed a few times early this year to get the point across.

Such a stupid inclusion to the Jake trade.

 

[Zirakzigil]

Like it from the Pens side. Our defence has been toilet paper soft for years. Schenn was a guy I thought we should of added last year.

Novak I dont know much about, but Bunting has only been good recently with Geno.

 

[Mike C]

Being Younger and Cheaper already makes him better before he hits the ice. Bunting was whatever. The pens will probably flip schenn and get the pick back.

Fair points

 

[Coffee]

Schenn gotta be getting flipped

More than likely

How about now?

 

[JKG33]

That part doesn't surprise me he was a target of the Refs in Toronto so I'm not surprised that's continued

A target of the refs? Does the victim complex ever stop?

He's one of the biggest dipshits in the league

 

[Empoleon8771]

Novak has what? 22 total points. 5 on PP. He's decent on faceoffs. Doesn't hit anyone. Bunting had a horrible start. I might say they're close but I still like Bunting better.

Add the age factor in, yes maybe I'd take Novak

Novak has 12 goals and 16 points at 5v5, compared to 5 goals and 13 points at 5v5 for Bunting. Novak has done that while playing about 150 fewer minutes at 5v5.

Novak's 5v5 points/60 is 1.61 compared to 1.07 for Bunting. And Bunting did that with Malkin as his most common linemate, Novak's most common linemate is Luke Evangelista.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

Dubas heard the Schenn to Toronto rumours and did this purely out of spite.

I mean, it makes more sense then any other reason I've seen

Honestly if that's true I have no choice but to respect it tbh.

 

[gdsmack267]

Novak has 12 goals and 16 points at 5v5, compared to 5 goals and 13 points at 5v5 for Bunting. Novak has done that while playing about 150 fewer minutes at 5v5.

Novak's 5v5 points/60 is 1.61 compared to 1.07 for Bunting. And Bunting did that with Malkin as his most common linemate, Novak's most common linemate is Luke Evangelista.

Is that real player or an EA created played in year 15 of franchise mode?

 

[Hockey4Lyfe]

If anything for the Pens, they are attempting to get younger (assuming Schenn also goes), instead of staying the same.

They are trying new shit comparative to the last handful of years.

Shit may not work out at all but at least they are trying.

 

[Coastal Kev]

I feel like this trade is a win for the Penguins solely because I think it makes less sense for the Predators than it does for the Penguins.

Being the lesser of two evils is in no sense a win

 

[Smif]

Pretty disappointed Bunting has been so bad. Looks like he peaked in Toronto.

 

[DFC]

So is this really just two bad GMs fxxxing around?

 

[Clint Eastwood]

Let me take a guess here.

Pittsburgh does this to get Novak who's a solid player and he ain't too old. A bit more skill that could work with Crosby/Malkin better than Bunting ever did. They get Schenn to try and flip him to whoever.

Nashville does this because they want to come back competing next year with the big contracts they signed. They think Bunting will be a better, grittier fit likely on the 3rd line. Especially with younger players who won't have the strength to battle hard for pucks on the wall.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

I really don't understand what the f*** Trotz is doing. And Dubas sure loves NSH forwards

He's GM'ing like a coach that doesn't know how to GM.

 

[le_sean]

What in the blue f*** is this trade