New Penguins forward Michael Bunting has history of producing next to elite linemates
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Michael Bunting wasted zero time joining the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The former Carolina Hurricanes forward, dealt to the Penguins late Thursday night in exchange for star winger Jake Guentzel, departed Raleigh early Friday morning.
Upon landing in Pittsburgh, Bunting promptly made the trek out to the Penguins’ facility in Cranberry, where he joined his new coaches and teammates in practice, sporting a No. 8 sweater.
“Definitely a whirlwind,” Bunting said of being traded. “I didn’t see it coming. … I’m excited that it’s Pittsburgh, obviously. This is an experienced crew, and we’re in the running here. I want to try to help this team, come in and be a big part of it.”
Bunting, 28, is signed through 2025-26 and carries an annual salary cap hit of $4.5 million.
Originally selected by the Arizona Coyotes in the fourth round (No. 117 overall) of the 2014 NHL Draft, he was the key return piece in the Guentzel trade that also saw the Penguins ship defenseman Ty Smith to Carolina.
In exchange, the Penguins also acquired forward prospects Ville Koivunen, Vasily Ponomarev and Cruz Lucius plus conditional first- and fifth-round draft picks in 2024.
A left-handed shot, the 6-foot, 192-pound Bunting deployed chiefly as left wing on the Hurricanes’ third line this year.
In 247 career NHL contests, he has 70 goals with 92 assists.
Through 60 games this season, he has 13 goals and 23 assists while averaging 15 minutes, 6 seconds of ice time in his first season with the Hurricanes.
Penguins management is hopeful Bunting can offer even more as a potential linemate for Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin.
“We’ve watched Michael play in the league and have seen his body of work in Toronto and Carolina, and he’s a really good player,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “He’s shown an ability to play with top players. He did it in Toronto and was a 20-plus goal-scorer.
“… I’m sure we’ll explore some line combinations here to see where he best fits, but without a doubt I would envision him in the top six.”
Bunting played the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons with the Maple Leafs, when Kyle Dubas was general manager in Toronto.
Bunting scored 23 goals in both seasons, contributing 40 assists for a career-best 63 points in the first season.
During that time, Bunting was regularly sharing the ice with Auston Matthews, Mitchell Marner and William Nylander.
Bunting is confident in his ability to play alongside star players.
“I know I’m capable of doing that, and I like to play that role of getting them the puck, creating them space and also being able to put some in the net, as well,” Bunting said. “I’m excited to see how this all unfolds.
“… If that’s where I’m slotting in, I’m ready to go, contribute, try to play my game and complement the line.”
Guentzel’s departure also creates a hole on the Penguins’ moribund power play, which likely will be another area where Bunting plays.
On Friday in Cranberry, Bunting joined Crosby, Erik Karlsson, Rickard Rakell and a rotation of Bryan Rust and Valtteri Puustinen on the Penguins’ oft-changing top power-play unit.
At the time of his trade, Bunting had produced a career-high 16 power-play points with the Hurricanes, including six goals.
His 2:50 of nightly power-play time ranked third on the Hurricanes.
“That’s another part of my game that I excel at,” Bunting said. “I feel like I think the game offensively and can complement a power play either in front of the net or in that middle spot. So I feel like that’s my strength, distributing the puck. I hope if I’m there, I’ll help out this team.”
Playing against Bunting over the years gave his new teammates some insight into what he brings to the table.
“(He’s a) really good, hard-working player,” Rust said. “He has a nose for the net. He’s got really good hands in and around the net. Can score some goals, plays a good honest, hard-working game, and I think that’ll be really good for us.”
Goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic was particularly effusive in his praise.
“Oh, he’s a pain to play against,” Nedeljkovic said. “He might have the highest shooting percentage of anybody against me. He’s a pest in a good way. He’s a hard worker, he gets into the dirty areas, he wants to get the puck, wants to fight the back of the net. I think he’ll be a good fit for us. I think he’ll do a lot in hopefully that top-six role in trying to generate some offense and spark some offense for us. He plays with a little bit of an edge. Hopefully, guys can take a little bit of that from him.
“With guys like that, they just find ways to influence the play. There’s guys that, just specifically, they stand in front of the net and they’re a presence. He’s one that he finds different ways to get himself around there. He might not be exactly in front. He might be just off to the side a bit. In some capacity, he’s near the net, finding the puck and the puck is finding him.”
Even though Bunting is leaving a postseason-bound club and joining a Penguins team on the verge of missing the playoffs for the second straight year, he displayed no signs of being disappointed. Far from it.
“I’m excited to go where I’m wanted, and I’m excited to be in Pittsburgh,” Bunting said. “This franchise has a lot of history and knows how to win. I have two more years on my contract, so I’m excited to come back and continue my career as a Penguin.”
Notes:
• Forward Jansen Harkins was placed on injured reserve Friday morning, with Sullivan revealing Harkins had undergone surgery to his hand. Harkins fought Washington’s Beck Malenstyn during the second period of Thursday’s 6-0 loss to the Capitals and did not record a shift thereafter.
• Rust, who has been sidelined the last six games due to an undisclosed injury, practiced with the Penguins Friday in a full-contact sweater.
• Forward Drew O’Connor (concussion) skated in a non-contact capacity Friday.
• Forwards Jonathan Gruden, Joona Koppanen and Valtteri Puustinen were all assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League Friday. Puustinen, however, practiced with the Penguins, while Gruden and Koppanen were absent in Cranberry. Players must be on an AHL roster by 3 p.m. Friday in order to gain eligibility for the Calder Cup playoffs.