Michael Bunting has always liked the edgy style of play and this 2013 tweet proves it
Michael Bunting has been a fantastic story this season in Toronto. A Scarborough native who grew up a Leafs fan. Playing for the Soo Greyhouds under Kyle Dubas, Bunting was drafted in 2014 in the 4th round, 117th overall by Arizona.
He had to work and grind his way into the NHL, finally finding his way into a regular role just last season. Bunting's scrappy style, nose for the net, and familiarity with Dubas made him an ideal target for the Leafs this past off season.
The hometown kid signed a sweetheart of a 2-year deal, accepting an offer much lower than what some other teams had tabled. Michael Bunting wanted to be a Toronto Maple Leaf.
Bunting has been quoted saying that he tried to emulate the playing style of Brad Marchand - fast, skilled, and annoying as hell, but his favourite Leafs players didn't exactly play that style.
Bunting's favourite Leafs were two of the toughest guys to come to Toronto since Tie Domi. Frazer McLaren and Colton Orr were both respected and feared players that could make the most hardcore analytics fan feel the caveman DNA come out just by dropping the gloves.
We haven't seen Bunting drop the mitts yet, but perhaps fellow Scarborough native Wayne Simmonds will show him a thing or two about on-ice fisticuffs so he can walk a day in his idols' shoes.
