Michael Bunting Bio
Michael Bunting is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger currently playing in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Arizona Coyotes, 117th overall, in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft and made his NHL debut with that organization in 2018. Standing 6 feet 0 inches tall and weighing 186 pounds, Bunting has built a reputation as a competitive, agitating forward who can produce offensively while playing in a top-six role.
Over the course of his career, Bunting has suited up for the Arizona Coyotes, Toronto Maple Leafs, Carolina Hurricanes, Pittsburgh Penguins, Nashville Predators, and Dallas Stars. He has represented Canada at the IIHF World Championship, winning a gold medal in 2021. His path from an undrafted minor hockey prospect to an NHL regular reflects persistence and steady development through junior, AHL, and NHL ranks.
Early Life and Background
Michael Bunting was born on September 17, 1995, in Scarborough, Ontario, a suburban district in the eastern part of Toronto, Canada. He grew up in a hockey-oriented household, the son of Andy, a civil servant for the City of Toronto, and Lynda, a bookkeeper at Shoppers Drug Mart. Andy and Lynda divorced when Michael was young, and he was primarily raised by his mother, who is a breast cancer survivor. He also has an older brother, Christopher.
As a youth, Bunting developed his game in the Greater Toronto Hockey League, playing midget hockey with the Don Mills Flyers. Despite not progressing through the AAA ranks, his talent did not go unnoticed. The combination of supportive family and a competitive minor hockey environment in the Toronto area helped shape his work ethic and his willingness to compete in tight spaces along the boards and around the net.
Path to Hockey
Bunting’s path to elite-level hockey began when Kyle Dubas, then the general manager of the Ontario Hockey League’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, identified him while scouting another overage player. The Greyhounds selected Bunting 160th overall in the 2013 OHL Priority Selection, after he had been passed over in two previous drafts. As a rookie in 2013–14, he produced 42 points in 48 games, signaling his offensive upside.
During the 2014–15 season, Bunting emerged as a key contributor for the Greyhounds, leading the team with 37 goals in 57 games and adding 14 points in 14 playoff games. His production and two-way responsibility at the junior level convinced NHL scouts that he was ready for a professional opportunity, and the Arizona Coyotes made him their fourth-round pick, 117th overall, in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.
Michael Bunting Career
Early Career (2015–2018)
Following his draft year, Bunting signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Arizona Coyotes on July 23, 2015. He made the jump to professional hockey in 2015–16 with the Coyotes’ AHL affiliate, the Springfield Falcons, and was briefly assigned to the ECHL’s Rapid City Rush, where he scored his first professional goal. He finished that first professional season with 11 goals and 25 points with the Falcons.
When the Coyotes relocated their AHL affiliate to the Tucson Roadrunners, Bunting continued his development in the desert. In 2017–18, he scored 23 goals and 43 points, finishing tied for first on the team in goals and third in points. His growth in Tucson established him as a player ready for an NHL opportunity.
Arizona Coyotes NHL Debut (2018–2021)
After signing a one-year, two-way contract to remain in the organization, Bunting earned his first NHL recall on December 7, 2018. He made an immediate impact, scoring his first NHL goal in his debut on December 11, 2018, beating Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask in a 4–3 Coyotes loss. He was named to the 2019 AHL All-Star Classic and, on March 14, 2019, became the first member of the Roadrunners to reach 100 points with the franchise.
Bunting spent most of 2019–20 in the AHL before returning to the NHL lineup in March 2021. He opened his return with a goal and an assist against the Colorado Avalanche and then scored his first NHL hat-trick against the Los Angeles Kings on April 5, 2021. Notably, he played the first 14 games of his NHL career on the road, setting an NHL record, before finally scoring in his first home game in Phoenix on April 17. In 21 games with the Coyotes in 2020–21, he scored 10 goals, tying for sixth on the team.
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. In Toronto, he spent most of the season on the top line alongside Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, and 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.
His strong rookie campaign in Toronto made him a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie, and he was voted to the NHL All-Rookie Team. In his second season with the Maple Leafs, Bunting became known as an effective penalty-drawing forward and, at one point, led the league in drawn penalties at even strength. He finished 2022–23 with 23 goals and 49 points in 82 games, adding a goal and two points in seven playoff games, though he was suspended for three games in the 2023 playoffs after a hit on Tampa Bay’s Erik Černák.
Carolina Hurricanes and Pittsburgh Penguins (2023–2025)
After testing free agency on July 1, 2023, Bunting signed a three-year, $13.5 million contract with the Carolina Hurricanes. He made his Carolina debut on October 13, 2023, scoring against the Ottawa Senators in a 5–3 win, and later scored against his former Maple Leafs team in a 3–2 victory on December 30, 2023. In 60 games with the Hurricanes, he posted 13 goals and 36 points before being dealt.
On March 7, 2024, Bunting was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins as part of a package that sent Jake Guentzel to Carolina. He debuted for Pittsburgh on March 9 against the Boston Bruins and scored his first Penguins goal on March 12 versus the Ottawa Senators. Initially skating on a line with Sidney Crosby, Bunting was later moved to Evgeni Malkin’s wing alongside Rickard Rakell, and the trio produced points in eight consecutive games.
Nashville Predators and Dallas Stars Era (2025–Present)
On March 5, 2025, Bunting was traded to the Nashville Predators along with a fourth-round draft pick in exchange for Tommy Novak and Luke Schenn. He joined a Predators organization in the midst of a transition phase, adding veteran scoring touch and a competitive presence to their forward group. Later, on March 5, 2026, Bunting was traded to the Dallas Stars in exchange for a 2026 third-round pick, joining another contender late in a campaign.
Driving Style and Strengths
Bunting is recognized as a competitive, agitating forward who excels at drawing penalties and playing with a physical edge. He combines a quick stick and a willingness to battle in the dirty areas of the ice with the offensive instincts needed to finish at the top of the lineup. His ability to play alongside high-end centremen and complement their games has defined much of his value at the NHL level.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his career milestones, Bunting scored his first NHL goal in his debut against the Boston Bruins, recorded his first NHL hat-trick against the Los Angeles Kings, and became the first player to score a hat-trick on the same day his hometown was featured on Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada. He is also the Roadrunners’ all-time leader in games played, goals, assists, points, and penalty minutes, and won a gold medal with Canada at the 2021 IIHF World Championship.
Michael Bunting Career Wins
Michael Bunting has accumulated a series of individual and team achievements across junior, AHL, and NHL competition. While he has not captured a Stanley Cup, he has earned a Calder Memorial Trophy finalist nod, NHL All-Rookie Team honors, and an AHL All-Star selection. Internationally, he is a gold medalist with Canada at the 2021 IIHF World Championship.
OHL Highlights
With the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, Bunting posted 42 points in 48 games as a rookie in 2013–14 and then led the club with 37 goals in 57 games the following year, adding 14 points in 14 playoff contests. Those numbers helped him earn an NHL opportunity and set the foundation for his professional transition.
Other Wins and Performances
In the AHL, Bunting was named to the 2019 AHL All-Star Classic, captured AHL Player of the Week honors in February 2021, and became the Tucson Roadrunners’ all-time leader in several major statistical categories. At the international level, he helped Canada capture gold at the 2021 IIHF World Championship and represented his country again at the 2024 IIHF World Championship.
Michael Bunting Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Bunting was raised in Scarborough, Ontario, by his mother, Lynda, a bookkeeper at Shoppers Drug Mart and a breast cancer survivor, following the early divorce of his parents. His father, Andy, worked as a civil servant for the City of Toronto. He also has an older brother named Christopher, and the family supported his development through the Greater Toronto Hockey League and into the Ontario Hockey League.
Personal Life
Publicly available details about Bunting’s personal life center on his close relationship with his mother and his Toronto-area roots. He continues to be recognized for his work in the community and his connection to Scarborough, the neighborhood where he first learned the game.
2025 Season Performance
Michael Bunting’s 2025 season was defined by a mid-year change of scenery, as he was traded from the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Nashville Predators on March 5, 2025. His time in Pittsburgh included a stretch on a line with Evgeni Malkin and Rickard Rakell that produced points in eight straight games, a sign of the offensive spark he brought to his new club.
Arriving in Nashville, Bunting added a veteran scoring touch and a physical, penalty-drawing element to the Predators’ forward group during the stretch run of the regular season and into any postseason push. His performance in 2025 helped reinforce his identity as a top-six winger capable of elevating the play of high-end centermen.
Looking ahead, Bunting’s role within the Predators organization, combined with his experience in postseason hockey, positions him to be a meaningful contributor as Nashville continues its build. His combination of scoring touch, edge, and playoff résumé makes him a key piece of the team’s offensive plans.
