- The Flyers are bringing in veteran winger Michael Bunting on a one-year deal
- Philadelphia is the only NHL team still without a win this season
- Read below for the contract terms and what Bunting brings to Philly
Michael Bunting finally has a home, and it’s in Philadelphia.
The Flyers have agreed to a one-year, $1.2 million contract with the veteran winger, TSN’s Darren Dreger reported Tuesday. Dreger described it as a move to wake up a team that hasn’t won yet:
Philly needs the help. The Flyers are 0-2-2 to open the season and have been outscored 17-5, with Monday’s 4-1 loss to Tampa Bay leaving them as the only club in the league still looking for a win.
Head coach Rick Tocchet was asked about the effort after that game, and he called the group “way too comfortable” while putting the blame on himself. Five goals in four games is a rough return for a club that reached the second round in the spring.
Here’s where things stood after four games:
Bunting sat on the open market through all of training camp. He was one of the notable names still unsigned in early September, alongside Vladimir Tarasenko and Evander Kane.
The 31-year-old split last season between Nashville and Dallas. He put up 31 points in 61 games with the Predators before finishing the year with the Stars, ending up with 14 goals and 33 points in 74 games.
His best hockey came in Toronto. Bunting scored 23 goals and 63 points in 2021-22, finishing third in Calder Trophy voting, then added another 23 goals the following season.
Carolina, Pittsburgh, Nashville and Dallas followed. Across 418 career games, the Scarborough native has 109 goals and 252 points, and he’s always played with the kind of edge Dreger’s “spark” line is pointing to.
At $1.2 million on a one-year term, it’s a cheap swing for Flyers GM Daniel Briere on a team that badly needs some offense.
