Now that we are over two weeks into July, the majority of this year's notable unrestricted free agents (UFAs) have signed their new contracts.

Former Pittsburgh Penguins forward Anthony Mantha was one of the last big-name UFAs to find his new home, as he signed a two-year contract with the New Jersey Devils earlier this week.

With Mantha signing in New Jersey, another former Penguins forward has emerged as one of the best UFAs still available: Michael Bunting.

After future Hall of Famer Patrick Kane, Bunting is arguably the best UFA forward left. Because of this, it should only be a matter of time before he lands his next contract. 

Teams looking for help in their top nine should be in the mix for Bunting as the off-season rolls on. The 30-year-old forward provides value because of his gritty style of play and ability to produce solid depth offensive production. Because of this, he should be able to get a short-term deal before the start of the season.

In 74 games last season split between the Nashville Predators and Dallas Stars, Bunting recorded 14 goals and 33 points. This was after he had 19 goals and 38 points in 76 games during the 2024-25 season split between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Predators. 

Bunting spent parts of two seasons with the Penguins from 2023-24 to 2024-25. In 79 games as a Penguin over that span, he posted 20 goals and 48 points.