With Carolina believed to be among the teams shopping around the goalie market, there’s a possibility that they might need to clear out some money to bring out an impact netminder. To that end, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports (video link) that some teams have called the Hurricanes regarding the potential availability of Michael Bunting.
The 28-year-old is in his first season with Carolina after signing a three-year, $13.5MM contract with them in free agency this past summer. Suffice it to say, moving a $4.5MM cap charge off their books would certainly open up plenty of flexibility to go after a goalie if that’s a route they decide they want to go.
However, moving Bunting would also take a player of note from their lineup. While his playing time is down a bit compared to last season at just under 15 minutes a night, he has been a capable secondary contributor offensively, chipping in with eight goals and 17 assists so far in 36 games while taking a regular turn on their top power play unit. Taking him out of their lineup would create a fair-sized hole to try to fill up front so it would be surprising to see them go in that direction.
As things stand, Carolina has a little over $3MM in spending room today, an amount that jumps past $8MM at the trade deadline, per CapFriendly. Accordingly, if the Hurricanes stay healthy, they might not necessarily have to clear out a sizable contract to bring in help between the pipes.
In the meantime, GM Don Waddell is likely still working on moving blueliner Tony DeAngelo, a player whose usage has been quite limited in his second go-round with the team. DeAngelo is on an expiring deal with a $1.675MM salary and cap hit so even moving out that contract might be enough to give the Hurricanes the flexibility they desire should the opportunity to bring in an impact netminder present itself.
Raanta & DeAngelo to Toronto for Samsonov.
All three could benefit from a change of scenery.
Money works out even.
Who hurt you so badly?
As a Bruins’ fan, I am surprisingly okay with that deal. Go figure.
We don’t want either player. Pass on this trade.
Can’t do much worse in net than what you got now plus I think Deangelo would be deadly headmanning it to Austin Molesthews (seriously shave that moustache man!)
No chance the Canes move Bunting. He’s been great with Aho and the kinda guy we’ve looked for years for to play with him.
He hasnt played much with Aho this season.
Bunting only has seven hits all year, is a defensive liability and takes way too many penalties while also being an extremely poor skater.
His one NHL level skill is hanging out in front of the net on the PP. 5 on 5 he’s completely useless. He’s definitelu not the type of 200 foot player that RBA prefers.
Bunting spent seven years in the AHL for a litany of reasons most of which center around his limited skiilset at the NHL level.
link to naturalstattrick.com
9 goals puts Bunting into a tie for 6th place on the Canes. He’s on pace for a third season in a row of 20+ goals.
He’s tied for 3rd place in total points.
As much as I hate dumb penalties, Bunting has drawn more penalties (18) than he has taken (12), as he did both years in Toronto. The Canes power play is reaping benefits.
IF Don trades him, he had better get at least as good an offensive contributor in the package without giving up much more talent.
Bunting’s a proven scorer, in his prime, having another good year. Is Carolina’s forward corps so overwhelmingly solid as to unload him for the odds and sods available out there?
Let’s go Flyers!