What do we do with Bunting?

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

The bad version of Bunting was on display last night, again not on full display but worse than Florida

 

[The Management]

As far as I'm concerned, everyone has a chance to exorcise their demons next week. Show us what you're worth when it counts and I can ignore the foolish antics in the regular season.

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

The fact that he got called for backing up JT while he was mauled by 3 Lightning players goes to show what a cowardly an corrupt group the officials are. Call the game objectively, no one gives a f*** about you or your personality.

 

[mapleleafs34]

I think Bunting's playoff performance will decide his future. Last year he played injured during the playoffs.

This contract is likely his one chance to cash in so you can't fault him if he chases money in the open market. However, I'm convinced he loves it here with Auston & Marner + the fact that it's his hometown. I wouldn't mind a nice 3-3.5 million x 6-7 year contract.

 

[Niagara Bill]

It is really very very bad, when the refs hate you more than Corry Perry. Perry has been one of the biggest cheap shot guys for years but he must have cold beer ready for his friends. He should be suspended by the league for that cross check last night.

 

[mydnyte]

I'm conflicted with Bunting, because there is a version of Bunting that LOVE and want to keep, that version was on full display against Montreal.

However there is also a version of this player that I am more then fine moving on from, and although not on full display there were flashes of that last night, namely his stupid offensive zone penalty that he did not need to take.

And that's the thing with Bunting, for all the good he does there is A LOT of good, he takes to many calls and doesn't draw enough PP chances to balance it out.

trade him at the draft

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

trade him at the draft

He's an upcoming UFA that's pointless

 

[nuck]

I think the timing of these questions “what to do with X player” is off. Should ask that question after the Leafs season is done. That would affect my answer greatly.

True. This should be an "Is anybody else worried about..." thread at best. A big first round will give new shine to any player.

 

[LeafSteel]

The fact that he got called for backing up JT while he was mauled by 3 Lightning players goes to show what a cowardly an corrupt group the officials are. Call the game objectively, no one gives a f*** about you or your personality.

Last night actually has me deeply concerned as to whether Bunting may actually end up being a liability to us in the Playoffs, with him just trying to play his game.

The non-call on the Perry cross-check was atrocious, and the lone penalty given to Bunting when 3 Tampa players went after Tavares was equally bad.

How is Bunting supposed to play that isn't going to leave his Team short-handed? It's a horrendous situation for a player to know there is a different rulebook being applied to him, and an embarrassing look for supposed professional referee association. It just comes across as petty and vindictive, and it's a bad look for the NHL.

I am definitely going into the playoffs with a question mark on Bunting, and if he's going to be allowed to play how we need him to, and how he's at his best. Based on last night, I am more concerned than reassured.

 

[ACC1224]

Last night actually has me deeply concerned as to whether Bunting may actually end up being a liability to us in the Playoffs, with him just trying to play his game.

The non-call on the Perry cross-check was atrocious, and the lone penalty given to Bunting when 3 Tampa players went after Tavares was equally bad.

How is Bunting supposed to play that isn't going to leave his Team short-handed? It's a horrendous situation for a player to know there is a different rulebook being applied to him, and an embarrassing look for supposed professional referee association. It just comes across as petty and vindictive, and it's a bad look for the NHL.

I am definitely going into the playoffs with a question mark on Bunting, and if he's going to be allowed to play how we need him to, and how he's at his best. Based on last night, I am concerned than reassured.

I thought it was a pretty evenly called game. There were a few calls on Tampa that were a little soft as well.

 

[LeafSteel]

I thought it was a pretty evenly called game. There were a few calls on Tampa that were a little soft as well.

Same here, but that cross-check on Bunting has to be called, and Bunting being the only penalized player out of the entire scrum, considering all he did was grab the 3rd person from behind, was too obvious to be a coincidence. There should have been an off-setting Tampa penalty handed out.

 

[ACC1224]

Same here, but that cross-check on Bunting has to be called, and Bunting being the only penalized player out of the entire scrum, considering all he did was grab the 3rd person from behind, was too obvious to be a coincidence. There should have been an off-setting Tampa penalty handed out.

I think I recall Tampa having the only call in a scrum earlier in the game.

 

[IPS]

Last night actually has me deeply concerned as to whether Bunting may actually end up being a liability to us in the Playoffs, with him just trying to play his game.

The non-call on the Perry cross-check was atrocious, and the lone penalty given to Bunting when 3 Tampa players went after Tavares was equally bad.

How is Bunting supposed to play that isn't going to leave his Team short-handed? It's a horrendous situation for a player to know there is a different rulebook being applied to him, and an embarrassing look for supposed professional referee association. It just comes across as petty and vindictive, and it's a bad look for the NHL.

I am definitely going into the playoffs with a question mark on Bunting, and if he's going to be allowed to play how we need him to, and how he's at his best. Based on last night, I am concerned than reassured.

Petty and vindictive is an understatement.

They're going to keep penalizing an entire team just because they have their panties in a bunch over one player in regards to an incident that happened months ago at this point.

Dubas said after the game a couple nights ago that he's going to talk to the league about how they're treating Bunting. Management and coaching are very aware that there is a major problem here.

The fact that he got called for backing up JT while he was mauled by 3 Lightning players goes to show what a cowardly an corrupt group the officials are. Call the game objectively, no one gives a f*** about you or your personality.

If this is how it's going to be then they're going to have to scratch Bunting in the playoffs.

You can't be tied 1-1 in a razor close game in the 3rd and have officials making chickenshit calls like this on Bunting. Scrums happen after 80% of whistles in the playoffs and these idiots are looking for anything they can to put Bunting in the box.

 

[Magic Man]

I think I recall Tampa having the only call in a scrum earlier in the game.

I haven't watched that one as many times as I have the Bunting play to compare the situations. But, watching the Bunting clip, 3 Lightning players go after JT after the whistle. JT is the Leafs captain and he was being mugged by 3 players at the same time. What was Bunting supposed to do differently on that one, step aside and watch? Would there have been a call eventually if he did after letting them tag team the captain? Or were they waiting for a make up call after targeting a Lightning player earlier in the game in scrum to manage the game? They shouldn't need to make up penalties. Bunting didn't do anything. I think they should wait for someone to commit a penalty before calling a penalty, even if trying to prevent scrums. I could see them calling one of the Lightning there, but even then that is really soft. They were protecting the crease, Bunting was protecting his captain. No one got out of hand and it broke up quickly. Just another dumb call on him.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

According to CJ there has been zero talks, unless he has a monster playoffs he's probably gone

 

[Maple Leaf]

This was a steal a diamond in the rough until he got blacklisted

 

[AvroArrow]

I personally would try him on the 3rd line to start the series and see how it goes. Jarnkrok had great chemistry with Matthews. If we're struggling, juggle the lines try Bunting on the 1st line, but I'd want him play more of a grinding kind of a role, get pucks deep, forecheck hard, get in peoples faces. Jarnkrok has that heavy shot and great IQ playing with Matthews.

We can talk about keeping him or moving him after the seasons over

 

[Puckstuff]

I personally would try him on the 3rd line to start the series and see how it goes. Jarnkrok had great chemistry with Matthews. If we're struggling, juggle the lines try Bunting on the 1st line, but I'd want him play more of a grinding kind of a role, get pucks deep, forecheck hard, get in peoples faces. Jarnkrok has that heavy shot and great IQ playing with Matthews.

We can talk about keeping him or moving him after the seasons over

I feel like Jarnkrok has outplayed Bunting for about 20-30 games now at half the cost. I don’t want to write off the first 60 games though, it all counts. But on a new deal he’s cost him self a bit of money and should accept 5 years x 4 million per. Any more then that I think we should just roll with Knies/Robertson in his spot next year.

 

[BayStBullies]

Send him to Tampa so he gets preferential calls from refs.

 

[al secord]

Hug him and squeeze him and call him George.

 

[6ix]

He’s Bambi on skates. 0 lower body/core strength. At his age, it’s not like he’s growing into his body either. I wouldn’t go more than 3.5 a year, but some other team will probably overpay for him.

 

[Bomber0104]

You don't re-sign him and let him take his clown-show act that even his own teammates roll their eyes at, elsewhere...

If he had a smidgen of a backbone in his body to stick up for himself, I mean he would be somewhat tolerable, but unfortunately he's the kind of guy that nearly every person on the ice despises and that includes the opposing team, the refs, and probably most of his own team too.

 

[IPS]

This was a steal a diamond in the rough until he got blacklisted

Funny how this all worked out.

He went from being a legit Hyman replacement to being a black sheep of the fanbase. Some folks around here are very fickle.

 

[crump]

Agree with what Doug Maclean said on Kipper and Bourne yesterday. Tell him to shut his mouth and play hard. Just score some goals help us win. If he can’t do that, he’s part of the problem - let him walk.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

He's not on pace for a contract renewal.

Knies is his replacement.