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Toronto Maple Leafs: Examining a Possible Michael Bunting Extension

By Jeremy Ridgewell

May 4, 2022; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Michael Bunting (58) shoots the puck during warm up before game two of the first round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
May 4, 2022; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Michael Bunting (58) shoots the puck during warm up before game two of the first round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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According to Pierre LeBrun from TSN, the Toronto Maple Leafs may be open to offering Michael Bunting an 8-year contract extension.

Offering an extension for eight years (the maximum allowed under the current CBA) should allow the Toronto Maple Leafs to bring down the Annual Average Value (AAV). Michael Bunting’s camp would likely be open to an eight-year deal since Bunting is already 27 years old.

A comparable contract would be Chris Kreider from the New York Rangers. Kreider is on the third year of a seven-year deal with $6.5 million AAV. (Salary cap info from capfriendly.com)

The Leafs will probably try to keep the salary cap hit well below that, or there wouldn’t be much point of such a long contract.

Toronto Maple Leafs Need to Sign Michael Bunting to Extension

The amount of Bunting’s next deal depends on how well he performs this season. Bunting registered 23 goals and 40 assists for 63 points, most of that 5v5,  in 79 games last season. Another season like that deserves a big payday. The question is, will Bunting take less money to stay in Toronto for seven to eight years? Toronto Management and fans alike sure hope so.
(Stats from hockey-reference.com)

Bunting became the perfect replacement for Zach Hyman on the top line last season. He exceeded all expectations and is the perfect linemate for Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. Playing with those two is an easy way to increase your point totals and market value. Hopefully, Bunting won’t follow in Hyman’s footsteps and price himself out of Toronto.

With Bunting’s age, point production, and chemistry with Matthews and Marner, the Toronto Maple Leafs need to sign him to an extension. Dubas can not let Bunting leave in free agency after this season. It doesn’t sound like contract talks between Dubas and Bunting’s agent have begun yet, but I’m sure both sides will want to get a deal done before the NHL trade deadline in March.

Dubas will want to get a deal done as soon as possible, but I think Bunting and his agent will wait to see if he can raise his value. Bunting will be looking to build off of his impressive 2021-22 season. I think Toronto will try to avoid a short-term deal if they can. They have a good asset in Bunting and need to keep him long-term.

Next. Evaluating the Leafs Prospect System. dark

Bunting’s main focus right now is the regular season which is what it should be. He knows he is an unrestricted free agent this summer, so I’m sure he expects contract talks to start happening between his agent and Dubas. Being a UFA carries a lot of uncertainty, so getting a deal done would give Bunting and the Toronto Maple Leafs one less thing to worry about this summer.

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