Prior to the trade deadline last season, the Pittsburgh Penguins acquired Michael Bunting from the Carolina Hurricanes, a very physical player who has demonstrated the ability to score points. Jake Guentzel and Ty Smith were traded in the opposite direction. In addition, the Penguins acquired the rights to Cruz Lucius, two prospects, a conditional first-round pick, and a conditional fifth-round pick in the most recent draft. Bunting took only three games to become acquainted with his new teammates and system before scoring his first point in his new colors against the Ottawa Senators. Once rolling, it was difficult to slow him down as he tallied 19 points in 21 games with the Penguins to end the season. With a new Bunting may have increased expectations as the season approaches and he is predicted to play on the second line on the left side of Evgeni Malkin.

The 28-year-old has spent five seasons in the NHL with the Arizona Coyotes (two) and the Toronto Maple Leafs (two), splitting last season between the Hurricanes and Penguins. Bunting’s game has improved significantly after leaving Arizona and signed with the Maple Leafs as a free agency on July 28, 2021. While it may be easier to play with superstars like Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and Mitch Marner, he is demonstrating that he can do so with players who are not quite at their level and are past their prime. Having played 21 games last season with the

Penguins, giving him more than enough time to get acquainted with his new teammates and systems, Bunting could be looking at a season that has him reach a season-high point total, while also being a guy that does not let teams push around his star-player teammates.

New Season-High Point Total?

The 2021-22 season, just his first season with the Maple Leafs, was a career year for the Scarborough, Ontario native. Bunting played 79 games, putting up 63 points on 23 goals and 40 assists. He reached this mark largely from playing on a line with Matthews, as he collected his first 100-point season when he finished with 106 points on the campaign. While playing with Malkin is not like playing with Matthews, as Malkin’s 98-point 2017-18 season was the closest he has come to 100 points since the 2011-12 season, Malkin is still putting up solid numbers.

Though known largely for his physical play, Bunting is a talented player when it comes to other aspects of the game. With the addition of Bunting, who gets into the corner to create chaos and cause turnovers as well as getting to the front of the net, which he calls his “home” as he told the TribLive, for those gritty goals, his style of play can help the entire line increase its point production, including Rickard Rakell (from ‘Pestering play of Penguins’ Michael Bunting easing transition from Carolina,’ TribLive, March 31, 2024).

During the 2023-24 season, Bunting showed signs of closing in on that point total as he registered 55 points between the Hurricanes and Penguins. Of his 19 goals scored, only four were not put in from the slot or rebounds lying in the crease. Having come that close to reaching his career-high point total last season, it would not be surprising if he reaches, or even sets a new career high this season.

The Penguins saw the line combination of Malkin, Rakell, and Bunting a lot during the end of the 2023-24 season, and Bunting didn’t look out of place playing on a line with one of the finest players in the NHL, which might be attributed to his previous experience with Matthews. Indeed, once Bunting was added to the line, Malkin’s point production appeared to increase. Having a player that enjoys getting into the dirty areas, like Bunting, makes things easier for Malkin and Rakell. Bunting’s heart will undoubtedly shine through as he plays a full season for the Penguins.

Defensive Zone Play Needs Improvement

Bunting had a career-low minus-19 goal differential while playing for the Hurricanes and Penguins in 2023-24. Though a winger’s role is to prevent any shot opportunities from the blue line, it all depends on the team’s system and how they want to play in the defensive zone. No matter the system, all five skaters should assist their goaltender. There is still a lot of space for improvement; Bunting is not a bad defensive player because he is a solid two-way player, but he can always become better. These improvements should be implemented when the next season begins.

More Physicality

As noted before, Bunting plays with a physical edge to him while having the skills to play good hockey. Last season, his physical presence dropped slightly with 49 hits compared to his final two years in Toronto where he collected 85 hits in consecutive seasons in 2021-22 and 2022-23. Adjusting to two new teams may have been a reason for that. With the Maple Leafs, he knew his job was to get under people’s skin and get them off their game. Getting into new systems, players want to stick to the system, do what they are told, and not overdo things. Bunting may be given more leash when it comes to his antics, should he do them smartly, unlike he has in the past on a few occasions. He can be that guy to take players off their game just by laying a body on them, and Penguins fans can expect to see more of that this season.

Though it is unlikely that the Penguins will make the playoffs because several Eastern Conference clubs have made additions that improve and deepen their rosters, Penguins fans will continue to have high hopes for their team and players. Looking back on the Penguins’ history, fans and the city of Pittsburgh have strived for greatness. They will expect more, and Bunting will want more from himself this season. He is not one of the Penguins’ greats, such as Sidney Crosby, Malkin, or Mario Lemieux, to mention a few, but he is playing alongside two of those players, which elevates his expectations even higher. Expectations are there, but it is a question of whether he can of if he can meet those expectations, or even exceed them. The 2024-25 season will surely be a starting point to see what his future as a Penguin could look like