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Should The Toronto Maple Leafs Re-Sign Michael Bunting?

By Gordon Munro

NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 26: Michael Bunting #58 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates in warm-ups prior to the game against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena on March 26, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 26: Michael Bunting #58 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates in warm-ups prior to the game against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena on March 26, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Maple Leafs
RALEIGH, NC – MARCH 25: Michael Bunting #58 of the Toronto Maple Leafs looks on during the first period of the a game against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena on March 25, 2023 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Hurricanes defeat Leafs 5-3. (Photo by Jaylynn Nash/Getty Images) /

Since coming to Toronto, he has been seen as a product of playing with star linemates like Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares, and William Nylander. This narrative seems to be mostly true, especially when looking at the underlying numbers.

According to NaturalStattrick.com, the duo of Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner performed better without Bunting on the ice.

This season. With Bunting, the pair has an xGF% (expected goals for percentage) of 58.4%. Without Bunting, they have an xGF% of 59.05%. The same happens when looking at shot chances, high danger chances, and goals.

The difference is even more stark when looking at William Nylander and John Tavares. With Bunting, they have a below average 47.98% xGF.

Without Bunting, they sit at 57.36% xGF. It’s even more alarming when look at the goal scoring. The trio has a  16.67% GF% together, when you subtract Bunting from the equation, it’s 48.57%.

This just simply shows how Bunting effects the stars but how is Bunting on his own? When he’s not playing with Marner or Matthews, his results are underwhelming.

He has an xGF% of 46.82% and a GF% of 44%. So, when star players play without him, they improve and when he doesn’t play with star players… He sinks.

It’s no surprise that a complimentary player isn’t elevating his fellow star line mates. It is supposed to he the other way around by default but when the difference is that they play better without him and he plays significantly worse without them, why would a team invest large amounts of the cap to him?

Next. Leafs Should Trade Nylander for This Future #1 Dman. dark

Given that Bunting’s next contract likely comes north of $4 million when looking at comparable contracts, it doesn’t make sense to re-sign him. Even with the Toronto Maple Leafs having close to $15 million to spend this off-season. They would be better off spending it more wisely and taking a look at cheaper options to replace his role in the lineup.

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