Bunting is reportedly joining the Hurricanes after spending the last two seasons with his hometown Maple Leafs.
Bunting is reportedly joining the Hurricanes after spending the last two seasons with his hometown Maple Leafs.
Michael Bunting is joining the Carolina Hurricanes.
ESPN's Kevin Weekes reports that the Canes are signing the former Toronto Maple Leafs forward.
According to TSN's Pierre LeBrun, Bunting's deal is a three-year deal worth $4.5 million per season.
Bunting signed a two-year, $1.9-million contract with the Maple Leafs in 2021 and was a finalist for the Calder Trophy in 2021-22 when he scored 23 goals and added 40 points in 79 games. He followed it up by matching his 23-goal output in his second year with the Leafs. But last season, he struggled to stay atop the first line alongside Matthews. And in the playoffs, a three-game suspension limited his impact in a first-round win against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
At the time of his signing with the Maple Leafs, former GM Kyle Dubas admitted he was taking less money to play for his hometown team.
Bunting was one of several free agents that departed the Maple Leafs on the opening day of free agency.
Forward Ryan O'Reilly and defenseman Luke Schenn both signed multi-year deals with the Nashville Predators.
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