Nashville Predators Trade Forward to Divisional Rival

Nashville Predators Trade Michael Bunting to Dallas Stars

Bunting has played for the Arizona Coyotes, Toronto Maple Leafs, Carolina Hurricanes, Pittsburgh Penguins and the Predators across his seven-year NHL career. The 30-year-old has 13 goals and 18 assists for 31 points in 61 games so far this season. He’s been an averaging 14 minutes, 48 seconds of ice time. The Scarborough, Ontario native has a Corsi for of 56.1 and a relative Coris of 5.9.

The veteran forward has 108 goals and 142 assists for 250 points in 405 career games. Arizona originally drafted him in the fourth round, 117th overall of the 2014 NHL Draft. He had a standout career with the Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League.

He made the All-Rookie team in the 2021-22 season and finished third place in the Calder Trophy voting for the league’s top rookie.

Bunting has also represented his native Canada at the international level. He was part of the gold-medal winning squad that helped Canada win the 2021 IIHF World Championships.

What It Means

Dallas ads a depth forward that plays with a bit of an edge. He is 6-feet tall and 183 pounds and can camp out in front of the net for tip-ins.

The Stars are trying to add some depth in the middle part of their lineup. Dallas has reached the Western Conference Final for three straight seasons. However, the Stars have yet to win the Clarence Campbell Bowl and reach the Stanley Cup Final since the playoff bubble.

Nashville moves out Buntin’s $4.5 million salary and gets a draft pick out of this. Dallas gets a relatively cheap rental for the stretch drive.