Philadelphia Flyers Sign Michael Bunting Amid Rocky Start to Season
The Philadelphia Flyers have landed forward Michael Bunting, according to TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger. The deal carries a $1.2 million cap hit, providing Philadelphia with immediate depth on the wing as the team searches for answers after a sluggish start to the campaign.
Bunting, 31, arrives in Philadelphia after spending the 2024-25 campaign split between the Nashville Predators and Dallas Stars. Acquired by Dallas from Nashville for a draft pick before the trade deadline, Bunting went unsigned through the summer and into the season before finally finding a landing spot.
Bunting’s Production and Career Context
Last season, Bunting recorded 14 goals and 33 points across 74 games between Nashville and Dallas. He added a single assist in one playoff appearance as the Stars were eliminated in the first round. The 6-foot winger is coming off a three-year, $13.5 million contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs that carried a $4.5 million annual cap hit — a deal that never quite matched expectations.
Drafted 117th overall by the Arizona Coyotes in 2014, Bunting has accumulated 109 goals and 252 points in 418 career games across the Coyotes, Maple Leafs, Carolina Hurricanes, Pittsburgh Penguins, Predators, and Stars. The Scarborough, Ontario native has also represented Canada twice at the World Hockey Championship, winning gold in 2021.
Flyers Looking for Spark
The Flyers’ winless start to the season has created palpable frustration within the organization. Head coach Rick Tocchet publicly addressed the team’s lack of “compete” following a 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, signaling that accountability measures may be on the horizon.
“I think that this is a simple case of recognizing the importance of a good start. And the Philadelphia Flyers, as you’ve identified, haven’t done that. They haven’t been able to accomplish that.” — Darren Dreger
Dreger noted on his Early Trading segment that Tocchet is doing everything in his power to jumpstart the team early in the year. The signing of Bunting fits that urgency — a low-risk, high-reward move for a winger who can provide energy and secondary scoring.
Dreger also acknowledged the broader context of Philadelphia’s off-season, noting that the failed offer sheet for a center of substance earlier in the summer may have limited the Flyers’ options. With Tocchet under pressure to turn things around quickly, expect more roster moves as the Flyers look to right the ship.
What Bunting Brings to Philadelphia
Bunting’s game revolves around speed, net-front presence, and shot generation. At $1.225 million, his cap hit is manageable and gives the Flyers flexibility should the roster need further adjustment. After a season where he proved he could still contribute at the NHL level, Bunting has a chance to resurrect his career in a market with lower expectations — and perhaps reignite interest from other teams down the road.
For the Flyers, the move signals a willingness to experiment early. With the season already underway and no margin for error, Tocchet needs pieces who can make an immediate impact. Bunting’s versatility across the wing corps offers that possibility, even if his production last season was modest by prior standards.
Looking Ahead
The Flyers’ early struggles have put every decision under a microscope. Bunting’s signing is a clear acknowledgment that the front office and coaching staff believe change is needed now — not in some distant future rebuild. Whether a veteran winger on a minimum-contract deal can be the spark Philadelphia needs remains to be seen, but the intent is unambiguous.
As the 2024-25 NHL season progresses, all eyes will be on whether Tocchet can harness the energy he’s promising and whether new additions like Bunting can deliver at the level Philadelphia desperately needs.
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