Insider reporting that the Leafs have kicked off discussions with one of their pending UFAs

Until this point, we haven't heard much in the way of news surrounding a potential extension for Bunting. We actually haven't heard so much as a whisper about it from anyone credible. Well, thanks to TSN/The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun, we now have some news on that front. Per LeBrun on Tuesday via Twitter, the Leafs have approached Bunting's camp to open discussions on a potential contract extension - though LeBrun was very clear that the discussions are preliminary and that it's still very early to assume anything.

After recording 63 points in his rookie season with the Leafs, Bunting is roughly on the same pace again in 2022-23. If he exceeds that 60-point plateau yet again, he'll have a pretty good basis for a case to be making in excess of $4M per season on his next deal, as Real Kyper and Bourne's Nick Kypreos reported last month.

Bunting is also very close with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, so perhaps if they can find some middle ground with Bunting on a new deal or talk him into taking another sweetheart deal and a bit of a hometown discount, it could make convincing Matthews and Marner to re-up in Toronto when they're due new contracts over the next couple of seasons just a little bit easier.