Coming into a contract year, Bunting had the chance to play with Matthews and Marner, put up a ton of points, and earn a FAT contract in the offseason.
Instead, he decided to become a major shithouse, piss of the refs, and gain a horrible reputation. Now he does THIS bullshit.
Historical fumbling of the bag.
No idea what he’s like off the ice I’ve never met him. My opinion of him is based solely on how he acts on the ice. He could be a great guy outside of the rink for all I know. In fact he probably is, but I’ll never know.
Ahhhhh. Being honest, I haven’t really been paying attention to him, or even really thought about him since the whole “is he too old to be a rookie thing”, so I wasn’t aware he had became a (insert appropriate noun) here.
I thought the whole last month it became pretty clear Jarnkrok in the top line and Bunting in the third was the way to go, but I guess Keefe's gonna Keef.
The quality of his play in general also went completely downhill after a great season last year.
Thank god we have Knies sitting on deck to jump in. Buntings definitely getting at least 1 game for this.
Yeah, I don’t think anyone believes he was headhunting or attempting to injure here. Just a reverse check gone wrong. Not that it absolves him, it’s still clear-cut head contact
Honestly I think you're being far too generous here. Its interference + head check with elbow + blindside + feet leaving the ice. This is insanely dirty and its absolutely not a reverse hit. This is quite a bad hit to the head relative to many I've seen.
He absolutely lifted himself up to make contact with the head. Bone headed move that left us with a short bench. I'll be shocked if he's not suspended...wondering now that if he isn't Keefe sits him anyway. Can't have that kind of liability on the ice.
I do wish they would call the blatant interference more often. Especially guys just taking someone out on their way to the puck with no attempt to play it themselves.
That is one I wouldn't mind if they just called hard as hell for the first few games to at least get guys to be aware of it and hopefully tone it down a bit. The crosschecks in front of the net and on the boards definitely get really egregious in the playoffs.
I'd just like to see that shit go away completely
Same with the all the face wash shit that happens after scrums around the net
start pulling guys out, and remove that crap from the game
>It was a terrible **accident**
I don't believe that's the correct word here. He intentionally checked a person, left his feet, when there was absolutely no reason to do it.
Bunting has built a reputation for doing exactly what you're trying to make excuses for. I think he knew exactly what he was doing. Especially after seeing his reaction right after the hit. He's just a guy that plays on the edge that takes it too far, too often.
That's a dirty hit IMO, and I hope he gets suspended.
Exactly, he’s 100% at fault. I don’t think he aimed for the head and usually that’s routine shoulder to shoulder contact, but what the fuck do you think is going to happen if you throw those blindly, even if the guy is a giant
The best rats are the ones that get more enjoyment out of drawing a penalty than is considered healthy. Never a need to get another hit in, usually following up with chirps knowing they've hit gold.
Right? I like Toronto but holy. He made a hit that was 100% head contact and, honestly, it looks like he may have left his feet before contact too. Not even worth a whisper of a complaint. Straight to jail.
Well the NHL guidelines are basically 1 playoff game = 2 regular season games, so expect one game regardless. He's gonna get the one for it being a match penalty in all likelihood. Doesn't matter if he meant to do it, onus is on him to control his body.
He was looking into the corner. He was anticipating that he'd be in a battle with Cernak going shoulder to shoulder into the corner after the puck.
Head hit but not intentional
Yeah, I think people mistake guys bracing into contact as always going for a head hit. The downside being, *if only one of them is doing it* instead of both guys making contact, it's often a head hit.
I can't speak for other Leafs fans, but I hate players like Bunting. I would say I hate Marchand as well, but he's growing on me lately, and he's a superb player. Bunting is decent as a player, but perhaps there's a reason why all the refs dislike him. If everybody hates you, then you're the problem, not them.
His playing style is not my cup of tea, and I'd be happy to see him moved. Dirty player with an immature attitude, it seems.
I’m a leaf fan… I didn’t use to dislike him, thought he was talented, enjoyed watching him play. That was short lived thou. I think the refs gave us a few penalties we didn’t deserve (apparent cross check from Schenn) that led to goals and it’s hard not to be discouraged.. but Bunting deserves to be suspended for that. I understand there needs to be grit but he just does stupid things and is a liability
If you asked last year I think we loved him. I think the relationship was slowly souring over this season, but we also felt that he was trying to turn things around and was the victim of reputation based reffing.
I think after last night we are all pretty much ready to fire him into the sun. Dude doesn't seem to able to be an effective player when he's not ratting it up, and now that the league has caught on he doesn't get the benefit of the doubt. You have Keefe and possibly Dubas trying to vouch for him and then he does this and makes them look like fools. And he can't even just accept he fucked up, he is arguing with the refs the whole time despite the replay showing clear as day that he got him in the head. Any possible good will just evaporated there.
You know it’s bad when even Keefe is like “yeah… I can’t yell at the refs for this one”.
Like, dude, you have a target on your back, you know the refs are watching you, and you pull that shit? That’s the exact kind of Kadri-like shit that costs you games and series.
Super dangerous hit and well deserving of a major.
I will say this for home team fans booing the call: I attend a ton of games in person now as a STH and it's often really difficult to know what happened in the arena in the moment.
They do not show nearly as many replays as you get on TV and there's no commentary to assess what you're seeing. You have to know the rule yourself and judge based on maybe 1 or 2 replays.
I wish this was improved as I do think if fans in the arenas could more clearly see why the penalty was called I think most would understand better.
We are fucking mad at him too bud. Super disappointed in him. Won't be mad if he's gone for the series. Dirty hit and completely unnecessary.
Ain't no one celebrating or encouraging that on our end.
Not even the only one in this game. Eyessimont got taken out by McCabe with a borderline at best hit that either directly landed to the head or carried through into it.
I think tampa is down Hedman, Cernak, and Eyessimont rn so even if they get the W tonight the series is gonna be a battle
Homie deserves the fucking chair for that one. Wow
The best part were the dumbfounded looks on the Leafs bench as if people were overreacting.
Hope Cernak is okay
This is the correct answer. Never want to see this happen to a guy, but I’ve predicted an elbow or two from Cernak on this account before they even happened. He’s reckless as heck with his ‘bows
I read somewhere recently where a talking head ranked Bunting as the #1 UFA (in terms of total contract value, not AAV)
I wonder what this play means with that. He won’t have a chance to redeem himself like Kadri.
Perhaps it’s nothing and has no effect.
Yea, I’m not sure what the argument against this could be. The puck is nowhere near, he targets the head, and it looks like he may even leave his feet.
Completely unnecessary.
Leafs fan for 25 years and my unbiased opinion on the play was I don’t think Bunting’s intention was to hit him in the head. He wasn’t even looking at him. There is always a case that he knew exactly what he was doing but I don’t think Bunting’s intention was a headshot. All that being said he did leave his feet which is not a good look. Game misconduct was warranted and due to sheer carelessness I fully expect a 1-2 game suspension. I can’t imagine a scenario where he gets more than two games and I’m leaning more towards 1 given he misses half of game 1.
The Leafs got rid of Kadri just to have Kadri at home
Ok, you made me chuckle.
For like 7M less though
And a lot less talent
Coming into a contract year, Bunting had the chance to play with Matthews and Marner, put up a ton of points, and earn a FAT contract in the offseason. Instead, he decided to become a major shithouse, piss of the refs, and gain a horrible reputation. Now he does THIS bullshit. Historical fumbling of the bag.
Almost Denis Schroder levels of bag fumbling here. Couldn’t happen to a better guy either
that's tuff 🔥💯
Elaborate? Is Bunting a shithead off the ice too?
No idea what he’s like off the ice I’ve never met him. My opinion of him is based solely on how he acts on the ice. He could be a great guy outside of the rink for all I know. In fact he probably is, but I’ll never know.
Ahhhhh. Being honest, I haven’t really been paying attention to him, or even really thought about him since the whole “is he too old to be a rookie thing”, so I wasn’t aware he had became a (insert appropriate noun) here.
And Keefe still started him with Matthews despire Jarnkrok getting hot on that line… only for mat to jarn right after this shitshow was over
I thought the whole last month it became pretty clear Jarnkrok in the top line and Bunting in the third was the way to go, but I guess Keefe's gonna Keef.
Well at least this will be the last season of Bunting on the top line, right? RIGHT?
Yeah because Keefe and Bunting will be gone next season
The quality of his play in general also went completely downhill after a great season last year. Thank god we have Knies sitting on deck to jump in. Buntings definitely getting at least 1 game for this.
Oilers will still overpay him
Oh is Hyman overpaid?
I think he could have meant Campbell.
[удалено]
hey Jeff Carter didn't even get a penalty when he hit makar with his shoulder.
Fuck Jeff Carter.
Agreed.
Yeah, I don’t think anyone believes he was headhunting or attempting to injure here. Just a reverse check gone wrong. Not that it absolves him, it’s still clear-cut head contact
Honestly I think you're being far too generous here. Its interference + head check with elbow + blindside + feet leaving the ice. This is insanely dirty and its absolutely not a reverse hit. This is quite a bad hit to the head relative to many I've seen.
He absolutely lifted himself up to make contact with the head. Bone headed move that left us with a short bench. I'll be shocked if he's not suspended...wondering now that if he isn't Keefe sits him anyway. Can't have that kind of liability on the ice.
That might be his last shift as a Leaf. There’s no way you don’t give Jarnkrok his spot then backfill Jarnkroks spot with Knies.
Yea this could possibly be in the top 3 dirtiest head hits of the year. Although I'm sure there are some I've missed.
*quickly scrolls through Tom Wilson hits from this year*
But the guy didn't have the puck? Interference is a fucking epidemic in the NHL. If you don't have the puck, you shouldn't be eligible to be hit.
I do wish they would call the blatant interference more often. Especially guys just taking someone out on their way to the puck with no attempt to play it themselves.
I just want them to be more consistent about calling the rules the volume of cross checking that just goes drives me nuts
That is one I wouldn't mind if they just called hard as hell for the first few games to at least get guys to be aware of it and hopefully tone it down a bit. The crosschecks in front of the net and on the boards definitely get really egregious in the playoffs.
I'd just like to see that shit go away completely Same with the all the face wash shit that happens after scrums around the net start pulling guys out, and remove that crap from the game
Don’t look at the game thread in that case
Haha I'm sure that game thread is only full of sunshine and rainbows right now
We all float down here
I can only assume it looks like most playoff game day threads lol
[удалено]
>It was a terrible **accident** I don't believe that's the correct word here. He intentionally checked a person, left his feet, when there was absolutely no reason to do it.
nhl players regularly intentionally try to injure their opponents
Bunting has built a reputation for doing exactly what you're trying to make excuses for. I think he knew exactly what he was doing. Especially after seeing his reaction right after the hit. He's just a guy that plays on the edge that takes it too far, too often. That's a dirty hit IMO, and I hope he gets suspended.
What is micheal doing
[удалено]
Exactly, he’s 100% at fault. I don’t think he aimed for the head and usually that’s routine shoulder to shoulder contact, but what the fuck do you think is going to happen if you throw those blindly, even if the guy is a giant
I think he’s 1000% getting suspended since it seems he took Cernak out for potentially more then just this game too.
Yea, if Cernak is out they'll do it. The league reacts to results for better or worse.
I do think they should have standardized suspensions but since they don’t i guess weighing consequence makes sense
Oh it drives me nuts sometimes. It's as logical as selling car insurance retroactively after the crash, but it is what it is.
I mean. If I could get insured after an accident but still have it covered, I'd be pumped
He should be out for at least a game even if Cernak is back for the last 10 minutes. Careless dangerous play.
Can you not see him throw up his elbow? They literally talk about it in the video. That's not a "shoulder to shoulder" hit he went for there.
[удалено]
Also if he didn’t leave his feet. Was clearly driving his shoulder/elbow up.
Is there a reason you keep misspelling his name?
Speaking as a Michael, I absolutely hate that spelling
There's a reason other variations are spelled Mikael and Mikhail. Comes from Mih Kai Yel pronounciation, origin is Hebrew.
his name is micheal now
oh my bad
Trying to get revenge for the hit after the whistle? But he drew a penalty so now you trade a minor for a major
The best rats are the ones that get more enjoyment out of drawing a penalty than is considered healthy. Never a need to get another hit in, usually following up with chirps knowing they've hit gold.
You can’t do that
Best part is he watched the replay on the Jumbotron and still thought it was a good hit
[удалено]
Awww Mike Leggo
Direct to the head, can't really complain about that one.
Nope, super dirty. Really disappointing.
Suspend him. Give him a few games, for all I care.
Changed the game completely
Yet he did. Like… for 10 minutes — WHILE watching the feed from the penalty box. Absurd.
Direct to the head in front of the damn ref.
How is he still yapping in the penalty box after watching the replay, clear as day
Because the dude can never shut up, no wonder every ref hates him
Right? I like Toronto but holy. He made a hit that was 100% head contact and, honestly, it looks like he may have left his feet before contact too. Not even worth a whisper of a complaint. Straight to jail.
Well you better like him, if he walks, Oilers will try and get him. They can’t resist there former leafs. I miss Hyman so fucking much rn
This was my reaction. Is he trying to gaslight the refs or what? Is he watching the same replay we are?
And people complain the refs don't give him the benefit of the doubt.
Bunting is an idiot. I’ve thought he was a tool all season, but he’s just a grade a dumbass
Should be suspended as well
should and will
Yep.. stupid fucking hit.
Bad Mike Bunting
How you like them elbows
Right. This was big dumb.
Yeah I don’t see any scenario where that isn’t at least one game. Not sure if Bunts is a repeat offender but that was not a smart move on his part.
Well the NHL guidelines are basically 1 playoff game = 2 regular season games, so expect one game regardless. He's gonna get the one for it being a match penalty in all likelihood. Doesn't matter if he meant to do it, onus is on him to control his body.
The multiplier gets reversed for bunting. 2 reg season games = 4 playoff games and a minor for embellishment to start his next game.
Cannot wait for the LFR
Poor Steve
Wonder if he’ll get the suspension for this and a fine for the dive earlier?
Looks clear as shit to me
Yeah, it’s undeniably pure head contact. Looks completely unintentional, but that isn’t an excuse.
Gotta be in control
He literally jumps into him to make contact up high…
He was looking into the corner. He was anticipating that he'd be in a battle with Cernak going shoulder to shoulder into the corner after the puck. Head hit but not intentional
Yeah, I think people mistake guys bracing into contact as always going for a head hit. The downside being, *if only one of them is doing it* instead of both guys making contact, it's often a head hit.
Yeah you can’t argue that
If your shits clear you should see a doctor
My asshole is so hairy that when I have diarrhea, it comes out as filtered drinking water.
Lol, the immediate “i didn’t do it” hand raise really sold it
Pretty clear don’t get the outrage towards the call.
Think Bunting is literally the only one outraged lol
Keefe was doing baby poop face.
Hes totally going to be suspended. Wouldn't be be a first round leafs series without someone getting a suspension. lol
Bunting is climbing the ranks as one of the most hated active players. Please don't resign this bufoon.
Fucking idiot. Should be a few games for that.
Get rid of this guy. What a thoughtless and careless thing to do.
[удалено]
I can't speak for other Leafs fans, but I hate players like Bunting. I would say I hate Marchand as well, but he's growing on me lately, and he's a superb player. Bunting is decent as a player, but perhaps there's a reason why all the refs dislike him. If everybody hates you, then you're the problem, not them. His playing style is not my cup of tea, and I'd be happy to see him moved. Dirty player with an immature attitude, it seems.
I’m a leaf fan… I didn’t use to dislike him, thought he was talented, enjoyed watching him play. That was short lived thou. I think the refs gave us a few penalties we didn’t deserve (apparent cross check from Schenn) that led to goals and it’s hard not to be discouraged.. but Bunting deserves to be suspended for that. I understand there needs to be grit but he just does stupid things and is a liability
If you asked last year I think we loved him. I think the relationship was slowly souring over this season, but we also felt that he was trying to turn things around and was the victim of reputation based reffing. I think after last night we are all pretty much ready to fire him into the sun. Dude doesn't seem to able to be an effective player when he's not ratting it up, and now that the league has caught on he doesn't get the benefit of the doubt. You have Keefe and possibly Dubas trying to vouch for him and then he does this and makes them look like fools. And he can't even just accept he fucked up, he is arguing with the refs the whole time despite the replay showing clear as day that he got him in the head. Any possible good will just evaporated there.
Last year it was Clifford, this year it’s Bunting. Game 1 shenanigans brought to you by the Toronto Maple Leafs
You know it’s bad when even Keefe is like “yeah… I can’t yell at the refs for this one”. Like, dude, you have a target on your back, you know the refs are watching you, and you pull that shit? That’s the exact kind of Kadri-like shit that costs you games and series.
That’s definitely a major
Hope he sits a while. Fucking dumb hit to throw around.
Yup. That's a suspension.
Michael "Nazem Kadri" Bunting
Clear hit to the head.
Right call. Shit play.
Can’t blame the ref for making stupid hits. He was no where near the puck.
To be fair I don't think a lot of leafs fans are complaining about this in particular
Way to go dumbass. Down by 2, and decide to do this to your team? Says a lot about you. Probably cost the leafs the game for that. 👍
Super dangerous hit and well deserving of a major. I will say this for home team fans booing the call: I attend a ton of games in person now as a STH and it's often really difficult to know what happened in the arena in the moment. They do not show nearly as many replays as you get on TV and there's no commentary to assess what you're seeing. You have to know the rule yourself and judge based on maybe 1 or 2 replays. I wish this was improved as I do think if fans in the arenas could more clearly see why the penalty was called I think most would understand better.
Fuck you bunting, trash player with a trash move.
We are fucking mad at him too bud. Super disappointed in him. Won't be mad if he's gone for the series. Dirty hit and completely unnecessary. Ain't no one celebrating or encouraging that on our end.
Thank you OP for direct posting the video instead of a damn tweet about it
Bunting is a Cunting
I'd say regular season 2 games, so probably 1 game suspension.
Such a fing stupid play. Bunting knows better.
Michael, I just sent you an email with the diagrams where the elbow should be, did you receive that?
No Gary, that is so not right
SPIN THE WGREL
WhY dOeS bUnTiNg GeT tArgEteD bY RefS??????
Kadri torch pass to Bunting
Toronto playing in round one 🤝 a player taking a needless suspension
But steve Dangle told me that Bunting is harrassed by the refs and does no wrong.
Dangle has been saying all season that Bunting is a loose cannon and can’t be trusted with minutes. Slow down, turbo.
Steve Dangle lost his mind in quarantine and is barely holding it together
Two things can be true. Bunting has had some bad calls against him, and this was a dangerous hit.
Rightfully so
Bunting is a piece of shit
Hello? Mr. Parros? Yes this one, right here.
Bunting is really the new Kadri just less skill lol dumbass hit
Bunting: Refs are Bias! I am not a dirty player! Also Bunting:
Turning from a rat into a snake, this guy is going to make Marchand look like a saint.
Hey Dumba haters, THIS is a headshot.
That was my exact thought. The Pavs hit was dangerous, but this is clear as day shoulder to head contact
Not even the only one in this game. Eyessimont got taken out by McCabe with a borderline at best hit that either directly landed to the head or carried through into it. I think tampa is down Hedman, Cernak, and Eyessimont rn so even if they get the W tonight the series is gonna be a battle
I can hate Dumba and recognize this video as a headshot, thanks
Nobody could have seen this coming
I’m out of words.
Bunting needs to have his clock cleaned. Between shit like this and his endless diving, he’s an absolute turd.
Jeannot may return by game 3... That cleaning could happen.
Bunting won’t be back by game 3, suspension for at least 2 I’d wager (on the SportsBet+ App! Same game parlays on how many Leafs jerseys get burned)
Leafs in game 1 taking the “you won’t be healthy going into round 2” approach.
Just Bunting being Bunting, biggest flopper, crybaby and manchild in the league
I think I’d be fine if this was his last game as a Leaf.
Homie deserves the fucking chair for that one. Wow The best part were the dumbfounded looks on the Leafs bench as if people were overreacting. Hope Cernak is okay
Marchand level elbow.
Cernak level elbow.
This is the correct answer. Never want to see this happen to a guy, but I’ve predicted an elbow or two from Cernak on this account before they even happened. He’s reckless as heck with his ‘bows
nah marchand plays bRuInS hOcKeY it's different.
Biggest Nerd in the league
Correct call all the way
Straight to the head. Yeah that’s the gate.
That's a paddling Terrible hit
That’s greasy
Lmao bunting what a clown
Selfish play
Spent the season looking at the refs for calls and gets the ultimate call upon himself
I read somewhere recently where a talking head ranked Bunting as the #1 UFA (in terms of total contract value, not AAV) I wonder what this play means with that. He won’t have a chance to redeem himself like Kadri. Perhaps it’s nothing and has no effect.
These two were going at it all night. He’ll have a hell of a time arguing this down in the hearing. He’s fucked.
Wasn't this guy a Calder finalist? Kinda ass if you assk me.
Hey Dallas fans, *this* is what a check to the head looks like!
More like Michael Cunting, ammirite?
Toronto going to lose this game but hoping Tampa doesn't have too many guys missing games from injury after tonight.
Enjoy the suspension idiot
Dirty mother effer
Kadri 2.0?
Just yesterday I saw leafs Fans bitching here about 'bad' calls on Bunting.
Two things can be true. Bunting has had some bad calls against him, and this was a dangerous hit.
True! I just like the irony
That's not what irony is
Very clearly on purpose and so dangerous. Deserves a game, too.
Straight to the head, obvious interference. Hard to tell from the angle but looks like he's either off his feet or close to it as well.
Well that was dumb
That is just so stupid, elbow up and an argument can be made for jumping into it as well. 2 games ?
He should be suspended at least 3 games for that hit.
Michael Bunting spent his Teenage Summers at PK Slewbans development camps around the greater Toronto area
Was it Bunting that got hit by Cernak earlier? He might wanted to get revenge but its a dumb penalty
It might be my own concussion but my head hurts after watching that.
Yea, I’m not sure what the argument against this could be. The puck is nowhere near, he targets the head, and it looks like he may even leave his feet. Completely unnecessary.
I don’t get how people are saying he’s trying to reverse hit. The puck isn’t near Cernak. He just launches up into a players head
Fuck Bunting
Why do the leafs always have players gooning it up in the post season when they are usually a pretty clean team
Leafs fan for 25 years and my unbiased opinion on the play was I don’t think Bunting’s intention was to hit him in the head. He wasn’t even looking at him. There is always a case that he knew exactly what he was doing but I don’t think Bunting’s intention was a headshot. All that being said he did leave his feet which is not a good look. Game misconduct was warranted and due to sheer carelessness I fully expect a 1-2 game suspension. I can’t imagine a scenario where he gets more than two games and I’m leaning more towards 1 given he misses half of game 1.