Michael Bunting has drawn 13 penalties, which leads the NHL. He picked up a goal and an assist on Wednesday in Los Angeles.īunting is penalty-drawing machine for Leafs: 'I don't think guys like him' I'm starting to look for them and using my speed to my advantage."īunting set up a Marner goal in New York on Sunday. "I want to make more plays instead of just kind of getting it on my stick and off my stick as fast as I can. "I have a little more confidence with the puck," he said. After drawing two penalties against Pittsburgh on Saturday, he moved back up to play with Matthews and Marner on Sunday in New York. He appears a lot more comfortable in this second look with the first line. It is something that is important."Īnd it's helped earn Bunting a promotion. Early in the year, he spent nine games on the top line, but produced only two even-strength assists and was demoted to the fourth unit. "That is why you don't see a lot of guys that have the ability to do that. "It is a skill and one that is not easily transferrable to others," the coach noted. Sheldon Keefe believes this is a valuable trait. "It's not like I go out there thinking, 'Oh I got to draw penalties,' I just play my game and if I draw them, I draw them," he said. Whether in the Ontario Hockey League, American Hockey League or now in the National Hockey League, Bunting says he's always been able to elicit whistles from referees at a high rate.
"He competes really hard and (smile) a pretty good actor out there sometimes, too." "He's just always in the mix," added Matthews.
You can understand why Kurtis Gabriel, who's now with the Toronto Marlies, dubbed Bunting "a greasy rat" during a pre-season game. Kurtis Gabriel bombs Michael Bunting's interview and calls him a greasy rat lol /eQp5bPrWht "I'm talking quite a bit, probably the whole game. "I'm not afraid to be pretty vocal out there," he said with a grin. He goes to the areas where penalties are going to be called and stirs the pot a little as well."īunting says moving his feet is key.
DID LITTLE MASTER SEASON 2 EPISODE 13 SKIN
He gets under the skin of guys and that's what makes him who he is. He goes in there and plays hard and gets into those dirty areas where he creates confrontation. "I don't think guys like him on the other team," said a smiling Alex Kerfoot, who's second on the team with seven drawn penalties. "He's not afraid," noted Auston Matthews. The rookie winger also plays with an edge. "He gets in the dirty areas around the net," observed linemate Mitch Marner. "He causes a lot of havoc on goalies and not a lot of d-men like that. He puts the puck in a good spot where players got to use their stick a little more." Edmonton's Connor McDavid is three behind. That's one more than Minnesota's Joel Eriksson Ek, Tampa Bay's Anthony Cirelli, Montreal's Brendan Gallagher and two more than Calgary's Matthew Tkachuk. TSN Toronto Reporter Mark Masters reports on the Maple Leafs, who skated (optional) at the SAP Center in San Jose on Friday ahead of tonight’s game against the Sharks.Įntering play on Friday, Toronto's Michael Bunting led the league with 13 drawn penalties, per.