Despite Tuesday night’s 2-1 overtime win over St. Louis, it’s still not all sunshine and lollipops in Leaf land, and the same can be said for several others near the bottom of the NHL standings. That is especially true for the Nashville Predators, whose roster feels like it could get blown up any day now as things continue to spiral out of control.
So the Maple Leafs are less than content, and the Predators are just about done with everything. Why not link up on a trade? Nick Alberga and Jay Rosehill recently brought up the possibility of a one-for-one swap bringing Michael Bunting back to Toronto in a deal for Matias Maccelli.
“Maccelli for Bunting, would you do that right now?” Alberga pitched.
“I would probably do that, I think Maccelli’s got potential. His vision, his passing capabilities. But the way they’re playing, and the way they’re losing is where he, is exactly the way that he has missed steps in the game,” Rosehill said.
“Maccelli for Bunting… would you do it?”
A hypothetical Leafs trade sparks debate as the guys weigh Michael Bunting’s fit versus Matias Maccelli’s upside, vision, and playmaking.@thegoldenmuzzy | @Jay_D_Rosehill
The 30-year-old Buning is in the final season of the three-year, $13.5 million deal he originally signed with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2023, while the 25-year-old Maccelli is in the final season of the three-year, $10.275 million extension he signed with the Mammoth in 2023.
Michael Bunting Is the Exact Type of Player Toronto Needs
General manager Brad Treliving called his team vanilla on Tuesday, so if he’s looking to acquire players with more of an identity, then someone like Bunting is a perfect option.
Michael Bunting Maple Leafs trade
The Scarborough, Ontario native is known to be a pest who plays with tons of energy and jam, but has the skill set to play in a top-six role alongside elite talent.
He’s shown that capability during his time in Toronto with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, and in Pittsburgh with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin at varying times.
It’s difficult to find many realistic trade targets that suit the Maple Leafs’ current wants and needs, but Bunting fits them to a tee, and there’s no doubt the veteran winger can be had for the right package in return.
