Who's the next Bunting for us ?

[NCoRe]

M-Bunting was incredibly good find and scouted well for our needs. We need more of these "on the verge" players. Not all of 'em will be as good as Bunts, but if 1-2 makes it close its a definite win for the organisation. Doesnt have to be from NHL (also free wallets from europe). Who are your picks.

I got couple

Jaret Anderson-Dolan

Just on the cusp of breaking through, but for some reason doesnt seem to magically happen in Kings, could we lure him to us ? Versatile player who plays both wings and center. Also much skill and will. Maybe lacks some tenacity, but I've allways liked (I would've picked Vilardi from Kings, but not sure they're willing to let him go)

Fabian Zetterlund

Kinda similar to above, but more defensive accumen aswell. Bit of a tank and can play hard on the boards aswell. Not sure about the valuation of him though.

Alex Nylander

Before you bash me completely, yeah yeah I know hes been bit of a bust, but I optimistically think that giving him another chance would be welcomed try. You never know what Willy might do to his confidence.

Joachim Blichfeld

Darkhorse to this quartet. I loved watching this guy grow year to year and while this season he might not have taken the final step to become effective NHL player, I'd say hes really close. Good size, incredible workrate and very good two-way instincts.

I could've named dozen others and D's also, but these comes to mind.

Whattya think ?

Click to read more...

 

[ToneDog]

Doesn't appear to be any from the pending UFA list. If I had to guess I'd say Hinostroza, Paul, Carrick, Donato have a chance to outperform a cheap contract.

 

[Morgs]

Pontus Holmberg.

 

[ULF_55]

Engvall.

 

[Tak7]

Alex Nylander

Before you bash me completely, yeah yeah I know hes been bit of a bust, but I optimistically think that giving him another chance would be welcomed try. You never know what Willy might do to his confidence.

I can see the logic behind this, but that's what other teams were saying too.

He's not even playing in the NHL anymore.

 

[TopCheese]

It's Kase.. If he can stay healthy. He has really exceeded my expectations this year. He has a very solid all around game and would look great in the top 6 next to JT. Bunting - JT - Kase is the ideal second line IMO

 

[zeke]

Joey Anderson

 

[Le Cobra]

Whattya think ?

i think if we had a team of Buntings we might have a chance at getting past the first round

 

[IrishInOntario]

Tyler Bertuzzi, via trade, when Kerfoot, Mrazek, Holl and Muzzin are moved this summer to free up cap space.

Leafs go with this...

Bunting-Matthews-Marner
Bertuzzi-Tavares-Nylander
Mikheyev-Kampf-Engvall
Robertson-Douglas-Blackwell
Holmberg

Reilly-Brodie
Giordano ($1 million)-Liljegren
Sandin-Lyubushkin
Kral

Campbell
Trade

 

[Gabriel426]

I think Holmberg

 

[ITM]

Michael Mcleod for me. I feel like I'm beating a drum here, but the kid looks like he's got untapped potential and is under deployed in New Jersey on a club stacked at centre.

He's got grit. He's not an enforcer but he doesn't back down. He's quick. I think Toronto's offense would do similar things for him as Bunting. He's from Toronto...Right age, make-up...Think he'd be a good target in trade.

 

[AcerComputer]

Knies

 

[Seath The Scaleless]

Another vote for Joey Anderson.

As for external pending UFAs, this is based on very limited time spent watching them (except for Donato):

Laurent Dauphin
Kiefer Sherwood
Ryan Donato
Maxim Mamin
Andrew Poturalski
Justin Bailey

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Pretty easy answer for me: Zach Senyshyn.

He is more of a project than Bunting, and really nobody is exactly like Bunting out there this year, but he has speed, size, sniping ability... Get him the right development program and you never know?

Give him the Seney treatment and let him go to work. Seney has turned into a top notch performer for the Marlies at the very least, and Senyshyn has a lot more NHL projectability than Seney.

HM's:
Anton Blidh - Plays with the exact same kind of intensity as Bunting (including drawing a lot of penalties) but is more of a defensive specialist than a complimentary top 6er. Has struggled in limited NHL action too.
Dakota Joshua - Former Leafs prospect. Plays a physical game and is a solid skater, but mostly a depth guy with limited offensive ability and not enough defensively to make up for it. Although a team like Florida can probably turn him into a star.
Adam Brooks - Another former Leafs prospect. He got screwed by waivers, and I hope he finds a team that gives him a legit shot and some stability. Unfortunately, between Holmberg and Abruzzese, we have younger and better versions of him already signed.
Maxim Mamin - He has some size, good underlying numbers, and will lay out hits. I just don't know if there is enough there to find a role at the NHL level, and he may decide to head back to the KHL for good.
Denis Malgin - The Leafs prospect nobody wants to talk about unless they bring up Mason Marchment. Tons of speed, tons of skill and creativity, tons of compete, improved his shot a fair bit since leaving NA. The only issue really is finding a spot for him in the Leafs lineup, because he has definitely earned another shot at the NHL. I still think the Andreas Johnsson comparison holds here.

 

[horner]

Blackwell

 

[acrobaticgoalie]

Tyler Bertuzzi, via trade, when Kerfoot, Mrazek, Holl and Muzzin are moved this summer to free up cap space.

Leafs go with this...

Bunting-Matthews-Marner
Bertuzzi-Tavares-Nylander
Mikheyev-Kampf-Engvall
Robertson-Douglas-Blackwell
Holmberg

Reilly-Brodie
Giordano ($1 million)-Liljegren
Sandin-Lyubushkin
Kral

Campbell
Trade

I dont think Mikheyev will be back next year

 

[The Iceman]

Why the Bunting pick-up was so good is that he is a perfect compliment to the 1st line. Selfless, good hockey instincts, great on the forecheck, aggrevating, and brings energy.
Stick Bunting on PP2 and a 3rd line and he does not overly impress.
A player that filled an exact need.

What the team needs to target on the cheap this off season is LW2 to fit with Willy and JT, a gritty D, a grinder checker to play in Mikheyev's spot and a couple guys to PK and play the 4th line.

 

[IrishInOntario]

I dont think Mikheyev will be back next year

If he's not, that's understandable. It'll be a loss for our penalty kill, but next man up. Maybe Holmberg gets a chance to slot in there. Robertson Anderson other other options on the system.

 

[Niagara Bill]

Bunting has been a find, but I think he has hit a wall and needs time off for refreshing his energy. He has never played this many games at this level before.

 

[TheFamousFart]

How about Tyson Jost? the potential is def in there but guy has been played in bottom 6, if used in top 6 with more minutes i think his game would change totally.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Engvall.

he's been great this year but absolutely no chance

 

[Le Cobra]

imagine we had both Bunting and Hyman on this team at the same time, Bunting on the first line, Hyman on the 2nd - add one enforcer type player like a Tom Wilson and we would be a force to be reckoned with come playoff time.