What do we do with Bunting?

[acrobaticgoalie]

I don’t think it was dirty either. Just a reckless play. Bunting was flopping to battle for body positioning against a bigger D-man, wanting to use his elbow to gain a step.. but he missed as Cernak buckled down, and got the head.

If Bunting keeps his centre of gravity low he wins the battle and likely avoids

C'mon man, he clearly throws his elbow/shoulder up into the head. He knew where Cernak was and knows what he's doing. Bunting doesn't deserve benefit of the doubt here.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

Not only is Jarnkrok far more productive

He will take Bunting's spot after this year.

 

[GQS]

When making contact it’s normal to leave your feet but he leaves his feet before contact. And it’s simple to jump 4” off the ice it’s not that hard.

Its Cernak who goes towards Bunting from behind and he happened to lean down. I've watched the replay repeatedly and no way is Bunting moving towards Cernak and he certainly didn't jump up 4 inches to intentionally make contact with his head.

 

[JL17]

Keep watching the replay one of these times you’ll see it.

 

[dubplatepressure]

Its Cernak who goes towards Bunting from behind and he happened to lean down. I've watched the replay repeatedly and no way is Bunting moving towards Cernak and he certainly didn't jump up 4 inches to intentionally make contact with his head.

I mean that’s what I see too, but it’s obviously questionable. Oh well. We sucked either way.

 

[Carltons Cup]

Regardless of how many games he gets, I'd sit his azz the rest of the series.

He cost us any chance of coming back.

 

[GQS]

C'mon man, he clearly throws his elbow/shoulder up into the head. He knew where Cernak was and knows what he's doing. Bunting doesn't deserve benefit of the doubt here.

Cernak was skating towards Bunting from the side/behind and he was leaning down and got clipped by Bunting's shoulder. Really don't see how he was intentionally aiming for Cernak's head and if he were more upright Bunting shouldn't doesn't come close to his head.

McCabe's hit on Eyssimont is what I would call wanting to lay an actual big hit on another player. Bunting on Cernak is just an unfortunate awkward hit that caused him to land badly on the ice and he had to leave the game.

 

[Leafsfan74]

Hope he is suspended and Knies come into the series. Maybe sit him if need be.

Also, Woll needs to start next game. When you ge beaten that bad from stsrt to finishnit isn't panic to make immediate moves, it is the necessity in a short series.

The players can't have confidence after Sammys performance and the kid shut down Tampa last game. Let the two young guys come in, the team will rally with them. At least at home.

 

[JL17]

Cernak was skating towards Bunting from the side/behind and he was leaning down and got clipped by Bunting's shoulder. Really don't see how he was intentionally aiming for Cernak's head and if he were more upright Bunting shouldn't doesn't come close to his head.

McCabe's hit on Eyssimont is what I would call wanting to lay an actual big hit on another player. Bunting on Cernak is just an unfortunate awkward hit that caused him to land badly on the ice and he had to leave the game.

The fall has nothing to do with him leaving the game. He was holding his head after the hit.

Plus watch Buntings reaction in the box. If it was an accident he would have lost his absolute mind like he has this year a couple times. That was a pretty tame reaction to the play.

 

[sxvnert]

He will take Bunting's spot after this year.

Jarnkrok and Knies are more than enough on LW.

 

[wingman75]

He doesn't know how to walk the line. He clearly hit Cernak in he head. 5 was the right call, and he might get a game on top of it. He has been in Keefe's doghouse a bit already this season, was this the last straw? Personally I hope so, he's not brought much all season in the big picture. As for next season, I'd just let him walk.

 

[Pebble live]

Move Jarnkrok up for game 2 for Bunts suspension and dress Simmonds or Knies.

 

[GQS]

The fall has nothing to do with him leaving the game. He was holding his head after the hit.

Plus watch Buntings reaction in the box. If it was an accident he would have lost his absolute mind like he has this year a couple times. That was a pretty tame reaction to the play.

Look at the hit from the rear camera view. Cernak is clearly skating towards Bunting from the side/behind and is leaning down and is clipped by Bunting's shoulder. Don't see him 'jumping into' Cernak when he barely left the ice and when Cernak is on his way down you can see his head and neck snapping abit which can't feel good at all.

 

[WillyC]

I would start game 2 with 23-34-16 on the first shift.

 

[klmdg]

When rumors of his ask came out, he immediately got moved down the lineup either as punishment or prove it, and he proceeded to play and produce like a borderline NHL'er on the 3rd and 4th lines

I've been sour on him for quite a while, and after that stupid hit tonight, which completely sapped the energy we had built in the face of horrendous reffing, I never want to see him in a Leaf jersey again

 

[MK78]

I guess Bunting ended his Leafs career there...

 

[sxvnert]

When rumors of his ask came out, he immediately got moved down the lineup either as punishment or prove it, and he proceeded to play and produce like a borderline NHL'er on the 3rd and 4th lines

I've been sour on him for quite a while, and after that stupid hit tonight, which completely sapped the energy we had built in the face of horrendous reffing, I never want to see him in a Leaf jersey again

Same thing happened with Hyman but in Hymans case he drove a successful third line. Bunting did absolutely nothing to earn his way back to top spot.

 

[klmdg]

Same thing happened with Hyman but in Hymans case he drove a successful third line. Bunting did absolutely nothing to earn his way back to top spot.

Hyman was a stud when he got moved down the lineup, plus he was solid on D and a great PK'er

Bunting is the definition of one dimensional and he needs to be carried by star players

 

[Stephen]

C'mon man, he clearly throws his elbow/shoulder up into the head. He knew where Cernak was and knows what he's doing. Bunting doesn't deserve benefit of the doubt here.

I feel this this is one of those line stepping Marchand plays that landed too well. He probably meant to elbow him. In the face. Probably on the nose. It was supposed to hurt. But full on head shot and head bouncing on the ice was just an unfortunate KO result and dangerous play that just landed.

 

[Stephen]

If Bunting is suspended and the Leafs go in the ditch and those two things are seen as relayed. I would say there’s a greater than 0% chance he may have played his last game as a Leaf.

 

[Havoc]

Not sure why Bunting is being made a scapegoat. He was playing well and has actually been very disciplined down the stretch. Wanting him out and Knies in is mind boggling. I imagine you would want both of them in.

 

[A1LeafNation]

Not sure why Bunting is being made a scapegoat. He was playing well and has actually been very disciplined down the stretch. Wanting him out and Knies in is mind boggling. I imagine you would want both of them in.

Maybe it was the headshot in a 4-2 game.

 

[Leafblooded]

Awful call, Czrnk jumped three feet in the sky and will easily be back next game.

 

[Havoc]

Maybe it was the headshot in a 4-2 game.

It was an unfortunate play. Prove it was a deliberate head shot.

Bunting looked like he actually cared and brought his heart on his sleeve this time around. Noticed him on every shift especially hovering around the crease

 

[Stephen]

Not sure why Bunting is being made a scapegoat. He was playing well and has actually been very disciplined down the stretch. Wanting him out and Knies in is mind boggling. I imagine you would want both of them in.

Down the stretch isn’t the same as when it’s for real and having a Kadri moment though. He already drew a PP on Cernak and the Leafs scored. He didn’t need to settle a score.