Michael Bunting

Michael Bunting

29-Year-Old Left WingLW
Nashville Predators
2024 Fantasy Outlook
In his first full NHL campaign back in 2021-22, Bunting racked up a career-best 23 goals and 40 assists while playing in 79 games for the Maple Leafs. In the two seasons since, the two-way forward hasn't been able to get back over the 60-point threshold. Having said that, the 28-year-old winger clearly enjoyed his time in Pittsburgh, maintaining nearly a point-per-game with 19 points in 21 outings after he was traded from the Hurricanes. Bunting appears to finally be the answer to the club's search for a winger to play with Evgeni Malkin - a role that could set him up to top that rookie point total and offer top-end fantasy value in 2024-25. Read Past Outlooks
$Signed a three-year, $13.5 million deal with the Hurricanes in July of 2023.
Activated from injured reserve
LWNashville Predators
March 14, 2025
Bunting (abdomen) was activated from injured reserve Friday, indicating he'll return to the lineup versus the Ducks, Nick Kieser of 102.5 ESPN Nashville reports.
ANALYSIS
The Predators now have 12 healthy forwards on the roster, assuming Bunting is able to make his team debut Friday. The 29-year-old figures to play in a middle-six role, though it's possible he is eased back into action following an appendectomy. Prior to getting traded to Nashville, he produced 29 points in 58 appearances with the Penguins.
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2024–25 Time On Ice Stats
  • Average Time On Ice:
    15:04
  • Average Power Play TOI:
    2:50
  • Average Short-Handed TOI:
    0:00
  • Average Time On Ice:
    15:15
  • Average Power Play TOI:
    2:16
  • Average Short-Handed TOI:
    0:00
 
Ice Time
Power Play
Short-Handed
2022–23
15:48
1:49
0:00
2023–24
15:07
2:50
0:01
2023–24
17:19
2:51
0:00
2024–25
15:04
2:50
0:00
2024–25
15:15
2:16
0:00
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Predators Power Play Depth Chart
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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Michael Bunting See More
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15 days ago
The week's best waiver pickups include Quinton Byfield, who offers upside from his points and pucks on net, which have been on the rise since the beginning of February.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2023
2022
2021
Bunting was a late bloomer, but at the age of 26, he took advantage of an opportunity to play regularly alongside Mitchell Marner and Auston Matthews, which led to Bunting finishing third in Calder Trophy voting in 2021-22 after scoring 23 goals and 63 points in 79 contests. However, despite once again getting to play alongside elite forwards, Bunting regressed in 2022-23 to 23 goals and 49 points in 82 contests. He can make his presence known by playing with a level of nastiness, as evidenced by his 80 PIM in 2021-22 and 103 last year, though the winger's not a great source of hits, having never finished with more than 85 in a single campaign. Bunting tested the unrestricted free agent market over the summer and ultimately signed a three-year, $13.5 million deal with Carolina. The Hurricanes have more depth on the left wing than Toronto did, which might result in Bunting going from a first-line option to a third-line mainstay. That will put a damper on his offensive production, though his tenacity should remain a factor to maintain solid mid-round fantasy value.
One of the best values in the league in 2021-22, Bunting was signed by the Leafs to a $950K contract and rewarded them with 23 goals and 63 points in 79 games. It was enough to make Bunting a finalist for the Calder Trophy as NHL Rookie of the Year, eventually won by Detroit's Moritz Seider. As good as Bunting played, he would seem to be a prime regression candidate this coming year. His time with the man advantage is limited (1:17 per game last season) and it's unlikely he'll score at the same clip when not surrounded by the likes of Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. Let another fantasy manager pay for Bunting's past production.
Bunting turned a 21-game audition with the Coyotes in 2020-21 into a two-year deal with the Maple Leafs in free agency. The reason: he scored 10 goals and added three assists while logging top-six minutes toward the end of last season. It doesn't take much to realize Bunting will likely experience a drop-off in both ice time and quality of play in 2021-22 -- he converted his shots at 26.3 percent in a limited sample last year on a bad team. The Maple Leafs' wing depth makes it unlikely Bunting cracks Toronto's top six this year, although he could still be effective as an energy winger on the third line. The 25-year-old probably won't top 25 points once regression takes hold, although he could start the year with power-play duties, which would provide a boost to his scoring numbers given the talent around him.
More Fantasy News
Game-time call Friday
LWNashville Predators
Abdomen
March 14, 2025
Bunting (abdomen) will be a game-time decision against the Ducks on Friday, Brooks Bratten of the Predators' official site reports.
ANALYSIS
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Doubtful on weekend
LWNashville Predators
Abdomen
March 6, 2025
Bunting (appendectomy) is day-to-day and is unlikely to be available for the Predators' game Saturday versus Chicago, per Brooks Bratten of the Predators' official site.
ANALYSIS
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Heading to Nashville
LWNashville Predators
Abdomen
March 5, 2025
Bunting (abdomen) and a 2026 fourth-round pick were traded to the Predators from the Penguins on Wednesday in exchange for Thomas Novak and Luke Schenn, Pierre LeBrun of TSN reports.
ANALYSIS
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Placed on injured reserve
LWPittsburgh Penguins
Abdomen
February 27, 2025
Bunting was put on injured reserve Thursday after undergoing appendix surgery.
ANALYSIS
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Undergoes appendectomy
LWPittsburgh Penguins
Abdomen
February 27, 2025
Bunting recently underwent surgery to remove his appendix and will be sidelined indefinitely, Matt Vensel of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports Thursday.
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Trade imminent?
LWPittsburgh Penguins
March 5, 2025
Bunting is expected to be traded to the Predators, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports.
ANALYSIS
Bunting is under contract for 2025-26, so clearly Nashville considers him someone who could help the team rebound next season. Friedman adds that Thomas Novak and Luke Schenn are expected to be heading to Pittsburgh in the deal.
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