Maple Leafs Targeting Former Top-6 Forward, Could Trade Offseason Acquisition

The Toronto Maple Leafs are still looking to switch a few things up on their roster and the Nashville Predators are headed into full seller mode with how things have gone over the past two seasons. This sets up a possibility of a trade involving the two teams.

According to Elliotte Friedman, "I'm hearing that there is interest from the Leafs in a Michael Bunting reunion. Not sure what gets it done, but I believe Maccelli may be part of the return."

Bunting is in the final year of his three-year deal at $4.5 million AAV and the 30-year-old has five goals and 13 points in 25 games this season on a bad Predators team. It's tough to say he wouldn't be doing better on a different team like the Maple Leafs as the leading scorer on Nashville has just 18 points.

Bunting played two seasons for the Maple Leafs in 2021-22 and 2022-23, scoring 23 goals each season, putting up 63 points as a rookie, and 49 points in his second season. He was a sneaky steal that the Maple Leafs thought would also happen with Maccelli, but it hasn't. Bunting's entire cap hit likely wouldn't be acquired by the Maple Leafs unless the cap hit of Maccelli is going the other way, but something else, probably a draft pick, will also be headed the Predators' way if the plan is to sell and get future assets.

Maccelli is currently sitting in the press box and has four goals and nine points in 22 games, playing limited minutes. Besides the big guns and a couple of depth players, many of the forwards just haven't done their job offensively this season and Bunting is someone the team has trusted in the past to be able to contribute. The team needs a shakeup and Bunting should be a lower-cost play that doesn't require a major change that is difficult to pull off mid-season.

Considering the Predators are ready to sell now, this could be a trade we don't have to wait months for. The Maple Leafs also need something done sooner rather than later with where they are in the standings.