PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Penguins have a pretty uneventful trade deadline compared to what was expected. The only two moves on deadline day involved depth defenseman Chad Ruhwedel heading to the New York Rangers and a minor league goalie swap with the Florida Panthers.
The day before is where all the action came for the Penguins when they sent Jake Guentzel to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for Michael Bunting, three prospects, and a pair of conditional draft picks. While the prospects may not see the NHL roster for a bit, Bunting is excited for his chance in Pittsburgh and is already getting put into an important role.
“I’m excited that it’s Pittsburgh,” Bunting said. “This is an experienced group. I want to try and help this team… Come in and be a big part of it.”
It won’t be easy for the Penguins to replace a 40-goal scorer like Guentzel, but they are confident they have a quality forward who can fit high in the lineup.
“He’s shown an ability to play with top players,” head coach Mike Sullivan said. “He did it in Toronto. He’s a 20-plus goal scorer. I think he’s a guy that’s shown an ability to play on the power play. He’s really good in that pocket position.”
During his time with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Bunting played with some of the best young players in the NHL. He often shared an ice surface with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner and is familiar with skillful teammates.
His previous work makes it plausible that Bunting starts his Penguins’ tenure on the first line with Sidney Crosby.
“I’m sure we’ll explore some line combinations to see where he best fits,” Sullivan said. “Without a doubt, I would envision him in the top six.”
Not only the top six, but Bunting was taking reps on the top power play unit, as well. And his positioning on the man advantage might be a step in the right direction over what Guentzel provided. Sullivan envisions Bunting as the new slot/net front option for the Penguins' power play.
Bunting has consistently succeeded in that role with 10 of his 13 goals this season scored from the slot, with an average distance of just under 20 feet.
Simply put, Bunting operates well in tight spaces and can cause havoc in front of opposing goaltenders.
In a season when the team’s power play has been nonexistent, a crash-and-bang player like Bunting could provide an immediate impact and upgrade on the man advantage. In that sense, picture him almost like Patric Hornqvist.
Bunting is also not afraid to be a pest and aims to get under the opponent’s skin. In his two seasons in Toronto, Bunting recorded 170 hits and 183 penalty minutes. He’s down to 55 in the 2023-24 season, but the Penguins have missed the kind of sandpaper hockey he brings.
With two seasons left on his contract, Bunting will be in Pittsburgh for a while, and he hopes there is still some winning to be done.
“I’m excited to be a Pittsburgh Penguin,” Bunting said. “This franchise has a lot history and knows how to win. I have two more years on my contract and I’m excited to come back and continue my career as a Penguin.”
Fans may not be happy about the exchange, but if Kyle Dubas can add new pieces in the offseason, Bunting could filter into being a quality option that can fit anywhere in the lineup.
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