The Year Michael Bunting Made the Maple Leafs First Line Work
Michael Bunting’s time with the Toronto Maple Leafs is one of those stories where everything just lined up at the right moment — and he actually took full advantage of it. Coming in, he wasn’t supposed to be the guy, but he ended up in a situation any winger in the league would dream about: lining up with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner.
And the funny part is, it didn’t just happen because he showed up. He earned that spot.
In a way, Michael Bunting took Zach Hyman's place.
When Zach Hyman left for Edmonton, there was a clear hole on that top line. Hyman had been the engine that did the dirty work — forechecking, puck retrieval, getting to loose pucks, and basically making life easier for the stars. Bunting stepped in and did a very similar job, just in his own style.
He’s not Hyman defensively, and that’s pretty clear. But in the offensive zone, the role is almost identical. Dump it in, chase it down, win the battle, and keep the cycle alive. That’s where Bunting made his money in Toronto.
The difference is how he plays once he gets there. Bunting is a left shot on the left wing, which gives him a little more flexibility. Instead of just defaulting to a quick backhand reset like Hyman often did, Bunting can turn, shield, and actually find different passing options. That small detail made a difference in how that line could extend plays.
Bunting had a way of getting under opponents’ skin.
And then there’s the other side of his game — the annoying part, depending on who you ask. Bunting got under the opposition’s skin. A lot. He drew penalties, he stirred things up, and he lived in that grey area where opponents are frustrated more often than comfortable. That’s part of why he was so effective in that role.
The trade-off, of course, is that he wasn’t a possession driver. He didn’t need to be. When you’re playing with Matthews and Marner, your job is to finish the cycle, not start it. And that’s exactly how Toronto used him.
Defensively, he wasn’t Hyman either, and you noticed it at times. He wasn’t the first guy back, and he wasn’t killing penalties. But again, that wasn’t his role. It was offence, chaos, puck pressure, and just enough finishing touch to keep things rolling.
Bunting’s time in Toronto was solid and successful.
What made Bunting’s time in Toronto interesting is that it wasn’t accidental success. It was a structured success. The Maple Leafs needed a very specific type of player, and he walked right into it and delivered.
Not a superstar story — just a perfect-fit story. And those don’t always last long in Toronto. But while it did, it worked.