Auston Matthews Praises Michael Bunting.

Head coach Sheldon Keefe started the season trying both Nick Ritchie and Michael Bunting on the left side and held on to Ritchie for longer than some fans wanted.

However Bunting has seemed to find some good chemistry with Matthews and things have been rolling along.

Matthews wasn't shy to praise what looks to be his locked in left winger for the season.

«He's just an easy guy to play with,» Matthews said. «He just works hard. He's smart. He gets to those dirty areas.»

He also likes how Bunting is very easy to talk to «just communicating and making sure that we know where each other is going to be or where we want to be,» Matthews said. «I think that's really beneficial as far as just building chemistry.»

Bunting says it was a point he wanted to make clear to his linemates.

«I kinda told them,» Bunting said «I'm not afraid of criticism, I'm not afraid of talking � like, if you don't like where I am, just let me know, I'm open to it.»

What do you think of the Matthews-Bunting combo on the first line?