More than luck of the draw
Bunting’s league-leading ability to draw penalties ‘absolutely a skill’ says coach
In coach Sheldon Keefe’s seemingly endless pursuit of line perfection — which lately amounts to moving the left-wingers around — the one Maple Leaf who seems to fit in no matter where he plays is Michael Bunting.
His game is the same no matter who lines up at centre: Go to the net, create chaos, draw a penalty.
“It’s absolutely a skill. It’s a competitive thing,” said Keefe.
“First of all, you’ve got to get yourself into spots that are contentious. You’ve got to keep your feet moving. You’ve got to skate out of traffic, stay in those tough spots.”
Bunting does that better than any other Leaf, and heading into Monday’s games he led the NHL in drawing penalties with 13, according to naturalstattrick.com — more than notable hard-nosed players such as Calgary’s Matthew Tkachuk and Boston’s Brad Marchand.
Making a charge in that category is Edmonton’s Connor McDavid (nine) after a week in which it was pointed out how few penalties the game’s greatest player has drawn. Over the past four games, McDavid drew four.
On the Leafs, both Mitch Marner and Alex Kerfoot have drawn six penalties this season, Auston Matthews a paltry two.
“It’s a skill, and one that’s not easily transferable to others,” said Keefe. “That’s why you don’t see a lot of guys that have that ability ... but it’s something that obviously is important.”
Bunting, who drew six calls in the last four games, has come closest to replacing Zach Hyman — the energy winger, now in Edmonton, who does the hard work that often goes without fanfare. Bunting also picked up the assist on Marner’s second goal in Sunday’s 3-0 win over the New York Islanders, the opener of a four-game trip that continues Wednesday night in Los Angeles.
“He’s a workhorse down low,” Marner said of Bunting. “He’s very good at protecting that puck as well, and he’s going to find that little secret spot on the ice to relieve pressure. I think we worked well, so we’ve got to make sure we keep that going into this California trip.”
Marner leads the Leafs with 17 points; Bunting, who scored 10 goals in 21 games with the Arizona Coyotes last season, is tops among the team’s newcomers with nine points.
Matthews has seven goals and eight assists, but for the second time this season has gone three games without scoring.
“Crossbars and posts seem to be getting in his way a little bit,” said Keefe. “The chance generation has been there. He’s generating lots of shots. We’re not concerned ... It’s just a matter of time before he starts filling the net again.”
Meanwhile, Nick Ritchie remains without a goal after 20 games. The Leafs have more invested in him, at $2.5 million (U.S.) this season and next, than any of the other forwards signed in free agency.
Ritchie has made a tour of all four lines and now finds himself with David Kämpf and Ondr ej Kaše. He also played with Kaše when both were on the Anaheim Ducks — the Leafs’ final opponent on this trip. Keefe is hoping for some chemistry there, because there hasn’t been anywhere else.
“Ritchie and Kaše have got good history together playing together in Anaheim, and it’s been productive. So it’s something we’ve been thinking of doing for quite some time,” said Keefe.
There was a taste of it against the Islanders. Ritchie won a puck battle along the boards and fed Kämpf, who set up Kaše for Toronto’s second goal.
“Nick is a guy that has scored in the league, coming off 15 goals in a shortened season (with the Bruins). He can finish around the net. He is getting chances. He’s getting looks,” said Keefe.
“We’ve seen positive things in his game. But the reality is, he hasn’t produced and it hasn’t worked out to this point.”