The Missing Piece: Why Michael Bunting Might Be Exactly What the Oilers Need

When former Leafs GM Kyle Dubas let Zach Hyman walk to Edmonton, Toronto fans were furious and Oilers fans were ecstatic. Many Leafs fans called it a disastrous contract and insisted Hyman wouldn’t live up to the deal. We all know how that turned out.

Shortly after, Dubas signed Michael Bunting to a two‑year, $950K AAV deal — praised at the time as a cheaper, younger Hyman replacement. To Bunting’s credit, he delivered two excellent seasons in Toronto, posting 63 and 49 points, still the best totals of his career. He eventually moved on to Carolina, Pittsburgh, then Nashville, then Dallas. But now the question becomes: could he follow Hyman’s path and end up in Edmonton?

---

The Missing Piece

Bunting plays an in‑your‑face, irritating, “muck it up” style the Oilers have quietly lost. With Corey Perry gone, Evander Kane gone, Vincent Desharnais gone, and now Darnell Nurse out of the picture, Edmonton’s supply of players who drag opponents into the mud is thinning.

Bunting has that “rat” element — the kind of edge Edmonton doesn’t have enough of right now.

Vasili Podkolzin and Colton Dach are closest stylistically, but both are young and still figuring out how far they can push that part of their game. Trent Frederic needs to lean into that identity more if he wants to win over Oilers fans. Bunting would help pull all of them in the right direction. He has some Hyman‑style traits in his game, and this summer Podkolzin and Dach have reportedly been trying to model parts of their play after Hyman. So why not bring in someone who already plays that way?

Bunting has scored 23 goals twice — both in Toronto — and while injuries have slowed him down the past few seasons, he still produces. Last year he put up 13 goals and 31 points in 61 games with Nashville before being dealt to Dallas for a third‑round pick. He added two points in 13 games with the Stars and appeared in one playoff game, picking up an assist.

Could He Help the Oilers?

Edmonton never truly replaced Jack Roslovic, who scored 21 goals and 36 points in 69 games. Bunting’s season was similar — especially before the Dallas trade and the injury — but he scores in ways that would help Edmonton more. He’s a net‑front, forechecking, dirty‑area scorer. Roslovic is more of a rush‑chance, skill‑touch finisher. Different profiles, different value.

Bunting has also shown he can play with elite talent. He spent time on Auston Matthews’ wing and had his best seasons doing it. He gets under opponents’ skin, draws penalties, and plays a style you hate to face but love to have on your bench.

And here’s the kicker: According to Bleed Oil Blue on X, he’s currently training with Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman this offseason. That’s not nothing.

A line of Bunting–McDavid–Hyman would make Leafs fans lose their minds, but it’s not hard to imagine it actually working. It would also give Isaac (Ike) Howard a cleaner development path down the lineup. Bunting’s style fits naturally beside McDavid — just as Hyman’s does — and the two of them together could create a forechecking nightmare.

Contract Outlook

Bunting will likely land a deal similar to Roslovic’s last summer — a one‑year contract around $1.5–2 million AAV to reset his game and aim for one more long‑term payday. He’s 30, still fast (65th percentile speed), and his style is built for playoff hockey. A PTO offer also would not hurt.

The Oilers should absolutely consider him. He brings grit, edge, forechecking pressure, and playoff‑style nastiness — all things Edmonton could use more of. He fits the age window, he fits the competitive window, and he would add real competition at camp. The Oilers also have $4,725,834 in cap space coming into the season, giving them the ability to make such a move.

If Bunting shows up in Edmonton, it wouldn’t just be a depth signing — it would be a statement. It would signal that the Oilers are doubling down on the identity that carried them through the 2024 and 2025 runs: relentless forechecking, board‑battle wins, and a willingness to make life miserable for opponents every single shift. Bunting fits that mold perfectly. He’s the type of player who can slide up and down the lineup, spark a line that’s gone quiet, or tilt a playoff series with one shift of chaos.

Edmonton Advantage

He also gives Edmonton something they’ve lacked since Hyman arrived: a second winger who plays that same punishing, straight‑line, “drag everyone into the fight” style. When Hyman is off the ice, the Oilers don’t have another forward who replicates that impact. outside of Podkolzin. Bunting could be that guy. And if he finds chemistry with McDavid — even in short bursts — the value of that signing skyrockets.

There’s also the internal competition factor. Bringing in Bunting forces players like Frederic, Podkolzin, Dach, and Howard to elevate. It sharpens the bottom‑six battles. It raises the standard. Edmonton needs that. They can’t afford complacency in a season where the Cup window is wide open but not guaranteed.

So yes — it wouldn’t be surprising at all to see Bunting walk into Oilers camp next month wearing blue and orange. And if he does, he might end up being one of those quietly brilliant additions that people look back on in April and say, “That move mattered more than anyone realized at the time.”

Next: Everyone Missed It: Mathieu Joseph Could Be the Oilers’ Sneaky Offseason Upgrade