Or maybe another big C like Gauthier or Kasper with the Isles pick, and then another big LD like Pickering or someone with that later 1st. Basically, just the framework of an idea to add a bunch of size and upside down the middle and on the backend, without necessarily being dependent on winning the lottery or reaching for positional need.
BA could have made a more reasonable offer to keep him somehow. We can't constantly make excuses for our GM when young players leave here and have 60 point seasons elsewhere. We at least got the better player in Schmaltz for Strome when he got 50 points.
. Same with Bunting - your position might be correct but maybe not?
My point is that you can't really blame Armstrong for it. For one, he got here 9 months before Bunting left. He did state he was evaluating for his first year. I would think he had to defer to Tocchet and other staff for how ready Bunting would be until he'd been around long enough to find out for himself or through other reports, but realistically, Bunting's readiness was unlikely to be a high priority so I can understand not being on top of it.
Bunting is 26. He needed to leave because he's not a young prospect breaking out. He can't wait 3-4 years and be 30. The opportunity afforded by the Coyotes was not going to work for him and it's clear immediate money wasn't what he wanted. He went to a high-flying offense, where he hails from, with high media presence to pump up his value (if you believe in that). In one more year he will get what is likely his most valuable contract of his career. Playing for the Coyotes would lower his value because he'd need to do it all himself more often than not, whereas Toronto has way more guys who can make it easier for you to score. Don't forget, it's become clear Armstrong will be trading away assets and unless Bunting could get a no-trade clause (unlikely), he very well may have been moved this past season to a destination not of his choosing. Besides, there is nothing stopping him from coming back in a few years when Toronto may be on the downslide and the Coyotes have arrived, but keeping him for a bit and then trading him for a 3rd rounder would have ensured he never returns.
Good post. I blame RT and Chayka more that BA. When the Coyotes offered Bunting a contract is was a day late dollar short. Bunting knew by then that TO wanted him, so it was a no brainer.
That's my point. Bunting should have been called up two years prior to see what he could do. If he made the team he all of a sudden becomes an asset that could be traded for something. Bunting will not be coming back. What ever, it is what it is.
Someone would need to look it up, but I’m certain Bunting had call ups previously.
He had a total of 5 NHL games that were all during the 2018-19 season. None in 2019-20. Then he ended up with 21 games in the 2020-21 season after BA arrived.
5 games in the 2018-19 season. That's it until the last year he was here.
26 games over 3 years. 5 in 18/19, 0 in 19/20, and 21 in 20/21.
Poorly handled, he gets a late call-up (finally) and shows he is NHL ready. Then he goes and plays for Team Canada. By the summer it was rumoured/known he was not interested in staying in the desert and preferred to play in Toronto.
We can't keep making excuses for losing young players that turn into 60 point players elsewhere. If BA had signed a 26 year old from another team like TM did with Bunting, and the guy got 60 points for us, we would all think BA is a guru and the TM GM was stupid. Keep in mind we are in a total rebuild, offering a young player a little more money or term doesn't have a lot of risk.
