Free-Agent Michael Bunting Signing With 1 of 4 Teams

The NHL's free-agent crop has been picked over at this point, but that doesn't mean there isn't significant talent left avaiable. Insert winger Michael Bunting, the pesky forward is one of the best forwards left on the open market, and it won't be long until he has a new deal in hand. He just may need to settle for a one-year contract, which at the start of the summer, wasn't something Bunting had on his radar.

Bunting, 30, turns 31 before the start of next season and spent last year split between the Nashville Predators and Dallas Stars. Bunting dressed in 74 combined games, posting 14 goals and 33 points. He added another assist in the long playoff game he dressed in.

Bunting's best season came back in 2022 as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and with his connection to Auston Matthews, many expected the Leafs to make an offseason offer, but that hasn't been the case at all. John Chayka decided to spend on Darren Raddysh, Jack Roslovic, and Colton Sissons instead. 

Heading into August, Bunting is hopeful to land a multi-year deal, but given the time of the offseason, there's no doubt he'll have to settle for less than his market value. The Edmonton Oilers have close to $5 million in cap space available, would Bunting accept a two-year deal at $3.5 million AAV?

There's also the Seattle Kraken, who have been searching for more offense this summer, and are one of the lone teams with significant cap space remaining, totaling $18.4 million. The Buffalo Sabres are interested in Bunting and after losing out on Patrick Kane, their interest may have increased. Bunting's not going to replace Alex Tuch's production, but he's capable of playing a significant top-nine role, and bring some swagger, and peskiness to the Sabres' roster.

Lastly, don't be surprised to see the Montreal Canadiens have some interest, as they look to balance out their roster with a fresh skillset. The Habs are looking to become tougher to play against, and Bunting's game can throw off opponents in a hurry, and he has experience playing on top lines with big names, so perhaps there's a fit among the Canadiens top six. The Habs have $9.7 million remaining in cap space.

Where does Bunting end up? Let us know in the comments.