Andrés Villagómez
Winger Michael Bunting is joining the Philadelphia Flyers on a deal that covers only the 2026-27 season, the club said on Tuesday, Oct. 6, in an announcement from general manager Daniel Briere. The deal carries an average annual value of $1.2 million, according to the club, and it is prorated because Bunting spent the summer unsigned as an unrestricted free agent, ESPN reported. The move came a day after a 4-1 loss at Tampa Bay left Philadelphia without a win in four games.
Why did the Flyers sign Michael Bunting now?
The start of the season has been rough. Through four games the Flyers have been outscored 17-5, and their shot-attempt numbers are the worst in the league by a wide margin.
| Flyers after 4 games | Figure |
|---|---|
| Record | 0 wins in 4 games |
| Goals for / against | 5 / 17 |
| Shot attempts for | 122 |
| Shot attempts against | 246 |
| Shot-attempt differential | -124 (worst in the NHL) |
| Next-worst differential | San Jose, -53 |
Bunting is a physical, agitating forward with a history of scoring, the kind of player Philadelphia hopes can give a struggling lineup some energy and some bite. ESPN described the signing as a bid for a spark and some toughness rather than a fix for everything that has gone wrong.
Who is Michael Bunting?
Bunting, 31, is from Scarborough, Ontario. The Phoenix Coyotes drafted him in the fourth round, 117th overall, in 2014. He broke through with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2021-22, when he scored 23 goals and 63 points as a rookie and was a finalist for the Calder Trophy.
| Career figure (per the Flyers) | Total |
|---|---|
| NHL regular-season games | 418 |
| Goals / assists / points | 109 / 143 / 252 |
| Power-play goals | 36 |
| Game-winning goals | 12 |
| Playoff games / points | 14 / 6 |
Last season he started with the Nashville Predators and was traded to the Dallas Stars, combining for 14 goals and 33 points in 74 games. Philadelphia is his seventh NHL organization after Arizona, Toronto, Carolina, Pittsburgh, Nashville and Dallas. Before reaching the NHL for good he played parts of six seasons in the AHL, mostly with the Tucson Roadrunners.
When can Bunting play for Philadelphia?
ESPN said it was not immediately clear how quickly Bunting would be ready to join the team after a summer without a contract. The Flyers' next game is Thursday, Oct. 8, at the Ottawa Senators, at 7 p.m. ET at the Canadian Tire Centre.
What does the deal mean for the Flyers' cap?
Very little. At $1.2 million for one season, the contract is a short, low-cost bet that does not tie up money beyond this year. If Bunting helps, Philadelphia adds a veteran forward at a minimal price; if not, the commitment ends when the contract expires after the 2026-27 season.
Philadelphia Flyers
