Michael Bunting Bio
Michael Bunting is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger currently playing for the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on September 17, 1995, in Scarborough, Ontario, Bunting has built his career as a hardworking forward known for his scoring touch around the net and his ability to draw penalties. Selected by the Arizona Coyotes, 117th overall, in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, he has also spent time with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Carolina Hurricanes, and Pittsburgh Penguins. Across each stop, Bunting has earned a reputation as a competitive bottom-six forward who has grown into a reliable top-six contributor.
Early Life and Background
Michael Bunting was born in Scarborough, a suburb of Toronto, to his father Andy, a civil servant for the City of Toronto, and his mother Lynda, a bookkeeper at Shoppers Drug Mart. Andy and Lynda divorced early, and Michael was primarily raised by his mother, who is a breast cancer survivor. He has an older brother, Christopher, and grew up in a household that valued perseverance and hard work.
Bunting played his minor hockey in the Greater Toronto Hockey League with the Don Mills Flyers, competing at the midget level. Despite not playing in AAA hockey growing up, his skills caught the attention of Kyle Dubas, then the general manager of the Ontario Hockey League’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Dubas spotted Bunting while scouting another overage player in the league, and the Greyhounds selected him 160th overall in the 2013 OHL Priority Selection, after he had been passed over in the previous two drafts.
Path to Hockey
Playing as a rookie with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in 2013–14, Bunting produced 42 points in 48 games, signaling his offensive potential. During the 2014–15 season, he led the Greyhounds with 37 goals in 57 games and added 14 points in 14 playoff games, establishing himself as one of the team’s most dangerous scorers. His performance at the major junior level convinced NHL scouts that he was ready for the professional ranks.
Bunting was selected by the Arizona Coyotes, 117th overall, in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, and signed a three-year entry-level contract with the club on July 23, 2015. He made the jump to the Coyotes’ professional ranks during the 2015–16 season, splitting time between the Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League (AHL) and the ECHL’s Rapid City Rush. He finished that first professional season with 11 goals and 25 points with the Falcons, laying the foundation for his climb to the NHL.
Michael Bunting Career
Early Career (2015–2018)
After the Coyotes transferred their AHL affiliate to the Tucson Roadrunners, Bunting joined the new club for the 2017–18 season. He scored 23 goals and 43 points that year, tied for first on the team in goals and third in points. His consistency earned him a one-year, two-way deal to stay with the Coyotes on July 14, 2018, after his entry-level contract expired.
During the 2018–19 season with the Roadrunners, Bunting made his 200th AHL appearance on October 13, 2018, against the Bakersfield Condors. He was recalled to the NHL for the first time on December 7, 2018, and scored his first NHL goal in his debut on December 11, 2018, beating Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask in a 4–3 loss. He was also named to the 2019 AHL All-Star Classic and became the first Roadrunners player to reach 100 points with the team on March 14, 2019.
Arizona Coyotes Breakthrough (2019–2021)
Bunting opened the 2020–21 season again in the AHL and was named the AHL Player of the Week for the period ending February 14, 2021. He returned to the Coyotes’ NHL lineup on March 31, 2021, registering a goal and an assist in his season debut, a 9–3 loss to the Colorado Avalanche. A few days later, on April 5, 2021, he scored his first NHL hat-trick against the Los Angeles Kings. Bunting played the first fourteen games of his NHL career on the road, setting an NHL record, before finally scoring a goal in his first home game in Phoenix on April 17, 2021. Despite playing just 21 games with the Coyotes in 2020–21, he tied Nick Schmaltz for sixth on the team with 10 goals.
Toronto Maple Leafs Era (2021–2023)
As a Group 6 free agent, Bunting signed a two-year, $1.9 million contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs on July 28, 2021, leaving Arizona as the Roadrunners’ all-time leader in games played, goals, assists, points, and penalty minutes. He spent most of his first season as the left winger on Toronto’s top line alongside Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. On January 29, 2022, he became the first player to score a hat-trick the same day his hometown was featured on Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada. He finished as a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie and was voted to the NHL All-Rookie Team, even though he did not ultimately win the award.
In his second season with Toronto, Bunting developed a reputation as an effective penalty-drawing forward who could agitate opponents, leading the league in drawn penalties at even strength by mid-December 2022. He finished the year with 23 goals and 49 points in 82 games, adding a goal and two points in seven playoff games. He was suspended for three games in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs after striking Erik Černák of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the head during Game 1 of the first round.
Carolina Hurricanes and Pittsburgh Penguins Era (2023–2025)
At the conclusion of his contract, Bunting signed a three-year, $13.5 million deal with the Carolina Hurricanes on July 1, 2023. He made his Carolina debut on October 13, 2023, scoring the Hurricanes’ first goal in a 5–3 win over the Ottawa Senators, and on December 30, 2023, he scored Carolina’s first goal in a 3–2 win over his former Maple Leafs. He played 60 games with the Hurricanes, recording 13 goals and 36 points.
On March 7, 2024, Bunting was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins, along with Ville Koivunen, prospect Cruz Lucius, Vasili Ponomaryov, and two conditional 2024 draft picks, in exchange for Jake Guentzel and Ty Smith. He made his Penguins debut on March 9, 2024, against the Boston Bruins and scored his first Pittsburgh goal on March 12 against the Ottawa Senators. After starting on a line with Sidney Crosby, he was later switched to Evgeni Malkin’s line alongside Rickard Rakell, with the trio collecting points in eight straight games.
Nashville Predators Era (2025–Present)
On March 5, 2025, Bunting was traded to the Nashville Predators alongside a fourth-round draft pick, in exchange for Tommy Novak and Luke Schenn. He joined a Predators team looking to add scoring depth and veteran leadership as the club continued its push up the Western Conference standings.
Driving Style and Strengths
Bunting is recognized as a tenacious forechecker who thrives in the dirty areas of the offensive zone, using his 6-foot, 185-pound frame to win battles along the boards and around the net. He has built much of his offensive game on his ability to get to the front of the crease and finish chances, complemented by a sharp passing sense when he plays on skilled lines. His knack for drawing penalties has been a defining feature of his game, while his willingness to play through contact has made him a coach’s favorite in all situations.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Bunting’s most memorable career moments is his first NHL goal, scored on Tuukka Rask in his 2018 debut with the Coyotes, and his first NHL hat-trick against the Los Angeles Kings in 2021. He also set an NHL record by playing the first fourteen games of his career on the road before finally appearing at home in Phoenix. In Toronto, he became the first player in league history to score a hat-trick the same day his hometown was featured on Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada, a fitting milestone for a player who grew up in the Greater Toronto Area.
Michael Bunting Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
This section is not applicable to Michael Bunting, a professional ice hockey player, and is omitted due to lack of verifiable content.
Personal Life
Michael Bunting was raised primarily by his mother, Lynda, following his parents’ divorce, and has an older brother, Christopher. He grew up in Scarborough, Ontario, where he developed his passion for hockey playing minor hockey in the Greater Toronto Hockey League. He has not publicly confirmed a spouse or children, and details of his personal relationships beyond his immediate family have not been widely reported.
2025 Season Performance
Michael Bunting began the 2025 portion of the NHL season with the Pittsburgh Penguins before being traded to the Nashville Predators on March 5, 2025, in a deal that sent Tommy Novak and Luke Schenn to Pittsburgh. The move gave Bunting a fresh opportunity on a contending Western Conference roster looking to add scoring punch and physicality down the stretch.
Joining the Predators, Bunting slotted into a forward group that featured several established scorers, providing Nashville with a net-front presence and a penalty-drawing winger who has historically produced offense in tight spaces. His experience playing alongside stars such as Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, Sidney Crosby, and Evgeni Malkin prepared him to contribute quickly in a top-six role with his new club.
Looking ahead to the rest of 2025, Bunting’s focus will be on solidifying his role with the Predators and building chemistry with his linemates as the team chases a playoff position. With his track record of clutch goals, penalty drawing, and postseason production, Bunting remains a valuable two-way contributor for Nashville as the season progresses.