I am looking forward to Michael Bunting’s impact after signing a 2 year/$4.5 million contract with the Carolina Hurricanes. Bunting brings scoring depth to a Carolina Hurricanes team that has a plethora of defensive depth. Over the last two seasons in Toronto, Bunting has been consistent, shooting 13.15%. Last season, Bunting netted 4 GWGs and posted positive 5 on 5 metrics, including both a 1.1% Corsi relative and a 1.3% Fenwick relative, demonstrating  his ability to control play when he is on the ice for his team. Over his three seasons he has yet to average less than 0.6 PPG. Bunting’s 2021-2022 season highlighted his game at its peak where he posted a GAR of 25.6 and a SPAR of 8.5 according to Evolving Hockey’s SPAR model. Bunting also had a good season on the powerplay where he scored 7 goals on 29 shots, while also tallying 3 assists.

Bunting has been nothing but consistent in the NHL so far when looking at his first season in Arizona and the past two in Toronto. Bunting may very well be the missing piece for a Carolina team who has been on a desperate and unfilling quest to the Stanley Cup finals. Whether he slots in on the first or second line he will create more scoring chances for a team that had three 20 goal scorers as well as three other players with 18 goals, and one with 17. Bunting will also assist Carolina’s powerplay that ranked 20th in the league a season ago with 19.8%. Also of note, Bunting’s historic disciplinary woes should be kept better in check under coach Rod Brind’Amour, who at this point in his career, has been able to keep his forward group focused on team defense. Additionally, the presence of larger and more intimidating teammates than he had in Toronto should keep Bunting’s play between the lines more often, allowing him to spend less time in the penalty box, and more time creating between the neutral and offensive zones.