Analyst and former NHLer reveals just how high the price could be for the Leafs to retain pending UFA
A Calder Trophy nominee for rookie of the year last season after putting up 63 points, Maple Leafs forward Michael Bunting is currently on pace for 58 points this season. In the final year of his 2-year deal he signed with the Leafs in the summer of 2021 that pays him 905K per season, Bunting is in line for a massive pay raise.
One analyst, Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos, believes that Bunting will have an asking price north of $4M per season. With what is expected to be a flat cap again next off season before it jumps $4-$5M the following year, and with a number of other pending free agents, the Leafs will have to convince Bunting to take a decent "hometown discount" and possibly offer a longer term deal to bring down his AAV if they want to keep him.
With 6 goals and 14 points in his last 13 games, Bunting has once again found his stride next to Auston Matthews and new linemate William Nylander. If he continues to roll the rest of the way, he could see a new career high in points, which could certainly complicate the longer term picture in Toronto.
Bunting is coming off of a two-year deal that has paid him just $950K per season.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 26 | 382 ANSWERS Analyst and former NHLer reveals just how high the price could be for the Leafs to retain pending UFA Will the Leafs be able to afford to extend Michael Bunting this summer? | ||
| Yes | 243 | 63.6 % |
| No | 139 | 36.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
