Confirmed Signing with Link: [TOR] Michael Bunting signs with the Maple Leafs (2 years, $900k AAV)

[axlrose87]

I appreciate the measured reply, unlike so many in your fanbase. I actually agree with you for the most part, it's a no-risk signing with some potential upside. But it's most likely a nothing move for a 3rd-liner at best, which just gets a lot of press because of media hype.

f*** off

 

[seanlinden]

It’s gonna be tough, I figured they would move kerfoot to get better depth on the wings and use Engvall at C

Engvall isn't a quality #3 centre either.

That being said, the Leafs cap picture is fairly clear at this point. $4.6m left, 19 man roster, 4 spots open.

Lets say you assume Robertson ($800k), and Liljegren ($860k) bring the roster up to 21... you're left with $2.94m to sign 1 or 2 players.

At the very least, that's a $2m UFA winger and a league minimum player.

Drop Kerfoot (again either in a deal for another forward, or for futures and sign UFAs), and now you can acquire a $3m winger and $2.5m centre.

Drop Mikheyev (either in a deal for a better winger, or in a deal for a pick), replace with league min player, you gain another $850k. Do it with Engvall there's $500k.



Lots of options here for the Leafs to invest in 1 more established forward. I also think they really should be shopping for picks to use as deadline currency. Will be interesting to see where they go from here.

 

[exporta]

Who would you trust, @MMC or Bob Mckenzie?

Obviously Bob. That said, thread title was originally 950k and was later changed.

 

[FerrisRox]

What’s so funny?

Pretending he's a top six player. It's ridiculous.

 

[Puckclektr]

Pretending he's a top six player. It's ridiculous.

Who is pretending he is top six? I literally asked the question....
Does he replace Hyman in the top six?

 

[Makaveli]

Who is pretending he is top six? I literally asked the question....
Does he replace Hyman in the top six?

I think they will try a number of things and see what sticks. I still expect us to grab another top 9 forward via free agency or trade.

 

[MMC]

 

[Saucechucker99]

I think this contract is going to turn into an absolute steal.

 

[ManofSteel55]

Michael Bunting is a soon to be 26-year-old who has played 26 games in his entire career. He had an extremely short run with a ridiculous shooting percentage. Now he's supposed to be a top 6 winger on a "contender"? Desperation. Good luck with it!

Desperation would have been signing him to be in the top six. His cap hit screams depth player.

 

[123offtheglass]

I had no clue who this was

Hopefully a diamond in the rough like Verhaeghe

 

[kanucks25]

Michael Bunting is a soon to be 26-year-old who has played 26 games in his entire career. He had an extremely short run with a ridiculous shooting percentage. Now he's supposed to be a top 6 winger on a "contender"? Desperation. Good luck with it!

It's 900k...

If it works out, great. If not, who cares?

 

[Mitchy]

Really nice player. Seems to play well no matter what line he's on, but he's been especially good with Matthews and Marner. Now, they haven't played a ton together, but their results together are outstanding, nonetheless. Great pest too. Draws a ton of penalties.

 

[leafsfan5]

I think this contract is going to turn into an absolute steal.

Aaaand you are correct

Pacing for 20 goals and 58 points right now. He's been very good offensively and is a huge pest (top 5 in the league for penalties drawn I think). Great signing

 

[Dragao6]

Ready back on the early comments is kinda funny now that it has gone well so far

 

[cyris]

Pretending he's a top six player. It's ridiculous.

Yeah. He would never work in that roll.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Pretending he's a top six player. It's ridiculous.

You sure about that?

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Arguably the best UFA signing of the off season

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Toronto “Soo Greyhounds” Maple Leafs.

We have a Colin Miller if you guys want him.

I fully expect him to be a deadline target

 

[MarkusKetterer]

I fully expect him to be a deadline target

Please don’t wait until then. We’ll eat half and take back like, Engvall to make salaries lesser (or someone else) for a 2nd, and you can have him today!

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Please don’t wait until then. We’ll eat half and take back like, Engvall to make salaries lesser (or someone else) for a 2nd, and you can have him today!

I'm not sure he gets a 2nd from anybody Colin Miller had significant potential at one time but that seems to have dropped

 

[MarkusKetterer]

I'm not sure he gets a 2nd from anybody Colin Miller had significant potential at one time but that seems to have dropped

11 points in 23 games so far this season, and is +4 (irrelevant stat, but would you expect anybody on this team to be a positive?). I think he’s recovered somewhat. Besides, you’d also paying for the retention. The cap dump is there to make his cost even less.

I’m sure a team would pay a 2nd to have a low end 2nd pairing dman, or higher end 3rd pairing dman, and only have to end up paying 500K on the season for him.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Pretending he's a top six player. It's ridiculous.

You sure about that?

12 goals 27 points in 40 games

Thats about a 55 point pace, about 24 goals.

You sure he's not a top 6 guy?

 

[Funk21]

Say what you will about Dubas he has signed some amazing depth pieces and the Rielly deal is screaming for a home run.

Honestly the Mrazek deal is still questionable IMO but not the worst. About the only one that really kills us is Ritchie. Obviously the way it’s structured will make it easy to move in the offseason IMO.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Say what you will about Dubas he has signed some amazing depth pieces and the Rielly deal is screaming for a home run.

Honestly the Mrazek deal is still questionable IMO but not the worst. About the only one that really kills us is Ritchie. Obviously the way it’s structured will make it easy to move in the offseason IMO.

The Marazek deal is bad, it was the right idea, but the wrong guy it should have been Holtby or Halak

 

[Team Cozens]

You sure about that?

12 goals 27 points in 40 games

Thats about a 55 point pace, about 24 goals.

You sure he's not a top 6 guy?

I know beer league friends that could put up 55 points playing with Matthews and Nylander/Marner.