Ilya Samsonov shares new nickname for Michael Bunting and compares him to the NHLs most hated player
Following Saturday's loss to the Leafs, Oilers' forward Evander Kane had some choice words for Michael Bunting, calling him a diver and saying that he embellishes to get calls. Bunting responded yesterday at practice saying that he doesn't care much for what Kane said.
Ilya Samsonov, who is reportedly not 100% right now, and thus, will not play against Buffalo tonight, was asked about Bunting and Kane's exchange prior to practice yesterday. "He's a nice teammate. It's perfect. He's doing an important job, like Brad Marchand," Samsonov said of Bunting. While Bunting doesn't produce the offensive numbers that Marchand does, he does an equally good job of getting under the opponents' skin and pushing the boundaries. So much so that Samsonov has given him the nickname "Dirty Mike".
Bunting was third in the league in penalties drawn last season with 47 and is currently second in the league this season with 37, behind only Connor McDavid's 40. As much as Bunting has struggled offensively lately, with just 4 points in his last 10 games, he has continued to be a pest on the ice, trying to swing momentum the Leafs' way by engaging in his usual post-whistle antics. Sammy's nickname for him definitely fits the bill.
