Through the first four games of the 2026-27 regular season, the Philadelphia Flyers have posted just two of eight possible points (0-2-2). Moreover, it's been the way the Flyers have been losing that's been the bigger early concern.
On Tuesday, the Flyers announced the signing of 31-year-old veteran winger Michael Bunting to a one-year contract for the remainder of the 2026-27 season. The deal pays $1.2 million against the salary cap.
The Flyers did not sign Bunting in the hopes of curing all that ails the team at present. Rather, he's there as a role player who brings agitation, forechecking prowess and some supplemental scoring pop to the lineup.
Bunting, a veteran of 418 career regular-season NHL games, has spent parts of seven seasons in the National Hockey League (109 goals, 143 assists, 252 points). He notched a pair of 20-plus-goal seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2021-22 and 2022-23. He posted a career-best 63 points in the first year and was a finalist for the Calder Trophy. The next season, he had a career-high 109 penalty minutes to go with his 23 goals.
The latter speaks to the Scarborough, Ontario, native's playing style. Bunting gets his nose dirty and, when he's on his game, gets under opponents' skin. He also creates power-play opportunities for his own team.
Last season, Bunting primarily played for the Nashville Predators (13 goals, 31 points in 61 games). The Predators moved the impending unrestricted free agent to Dallas on March 5 for a third-round draft pick. Bunting appeared in 13 regular-season games and one playoff game for Glen Gulutzan's Stars.
Overall, Bunting has seen action with six NHL teams: Arizona Coyotes, Toronto, Carolina Hurricanes, Pittsburgh Penguins, Nashville and Dallas. He's appeared in 14 career Stanley Cup playoff games: 13 with the Maple Leafs and one this past spring with the Stars. He chipped in six total points (1g-5a).
For most of his career, Bunting has played in the middle of the lineup -- second or third line -- but he could also be deployed for energy shifts on the fourth line. He can also be used on a second power-play unit, stationed near the net.
The Flyers have added Bunting as a complementary piece on whatever lines he plays. He won't significantly address the team's need for better connectedness on breakouts or through the neutral zone. Whatever puck possession he helps to create will come via the forecheck and winning 50-50 battles.
However, Bunting can be a puzzle piece in helping the Flyers become a little tougher to play against. He competes, he goes to the "greasy" areas, and he can hustle up a few goals.
Meanwhile, adding the veteran just four games into the season sends a message that no one can afford to be too complacent about his lineup spot. The team will need to make a roster move to add Bunting to its NHL roster.
