Predators' Michael Bunting: Activated from injured reserve
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Bunting (abdomen) was activated from injured reserve Friday, indicating he'll return to the lineup versus the Ducks, Nick Kieser of 102.5 ESPN Nashville reports.
The Predators now have 12 healthy forwards on the roster, assuming Bunting is able to make his team debut Friday. The 29-year-old figures to play in a middle-six role, though it's possible he is eased back into action following an appendectomy. Prior to getting traded to Nashville, he produced 29 points in 58 appearances with the Penguins.
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Predators' Michael Bunting: Game-time call Friday
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Bunting (abdomen) will be a game-time decision against the Ducks on Friday, Brooks Bratten of the Predators' official site reports.
Bunting has yet to suit up for the Predators after being acquired via trade from Pittsburgh at the deadline. Prior to getting hurt, the winger was mired in a 10-game goal drought dating back to Feb. 25 versus the Flyers, registering two assists and 20 shots over that stretch.
Bunting (appendectomy) is day-to-day and is unlikely to be available for the Predators' game Saturday versus Chicago, per Brooks Bratten of the Predators' official site.
Bunting had surgery last week and was dealt Wednesday from Pittsburgh with Luke Schenn and Thomas Novak heading the other way. Bunting had 14 goals and 15 assists with the Penguins over 58 games, and was a force on the power play with 15 points, including nine markers.
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Predators' Michael Bunting: Heading to Nashville
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Bunting (abdomen) and a 2026 fourth-round pick were traded to the Predators from the Penguins on Wednesday in exchange for Thomas Novak and Luke Schenn, Pierre LeBrun of TSN reports.
Bunting is out indefinitely while recovering from an appendectomy he underwent Feb. 27. The 29-year-old will probably be able to return prior to the end of the regular season, but that's not the focus for the Predators, who get a top-six winger under contract for 2025-26. Bunting has a little grit in his game and can be a power-play force, but the Predators will need to bounce back as a team to avoid tanking his fantasy value. With the Penguins this season, Bunting put up 29 points (15 on the power play) in 58 appearances.
Penguins' Michael Bunting: Placed on injured reserve
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Bunting was put on injured reserve Thursday after undergoing appendix surgery.
Bunting was already regarded as being out indefinitely due to the surgery, so his placement on IR doesn't come as a surprise. He has 14 goals and 29 points in 58 appearances in 2024-25. Emil Bemstrom was recalled from the minors in a corresponding move and is a possibility to serve in a bottom-six capacity during Bunting's absence, though Bokondji Imama will compete with Bemstrom for that spot.
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Penguins' Michael Bunting: Undergoes appendectomy
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Bunting recently underwent surgery to remove his appendix and will be sidelined indefinitely, Matt Vensel of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports Thursday.
Bunting is currently mired in a 10-game goal drought during which he registered 20 shots, two assists and eight hits. With Bunting on the shelf, the Penguins may not have to send Matt Nieto to the minors after placing him on waivers Wednesday. Pittsburgh's season is all but over, so there will be no rush to get Bunting back into the lineup.
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Penguins' Michael Bunting: Battling illness
Rotowire
Bunting (illness) missed Wednesday's practice, according to Matt Vensel of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Bunting has 14 goals and 29 points in 58 appearances in 2024-25. If he's not able to play Thursday versus Philadelphia, then Matt Nieto will probably draw back into the lineup.
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Penguins' Michael Bunting: Posts power-play assist
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Bunting logged a power-play assist, three shots on goal and two PIM in Friday's 3-2 win over the Rangers.
Bunting's last five points -- in a span of 14 games -- have all come on the power play. He snapped a five-game point drought Friday with his helper. For the season, the 29-year-old winger is at 28 points (15 on the power play), 100 shots on net, 57 hits, 48 PIM and a minus-16 rating through 54 contests. His even-strength play is likely to remain mediocre until his usual center, Evgeni Malkin (lower body), gets back in the lineup.
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Penguins' Michael Bunting: Strikes on power play in loss
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Bunting scored a power-play goal on three shots and went minus-2 in Thursday's 5-1 loss to the Ducks.
Bunting prevented a shutout loss when he scored in the second period. He had been limited to two assists over his last six outings. The winger is up to 14 goals, 13 assists, 90 shots on net, 51 hits, 46 PIM and a minus-15 rating through 48 appearances. If Bryan Rust (lower body) misses additional time, Bunting could be a candidate to see more ice time.
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Penguins' Michael Bunting: Slides power-play helper
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Bunting provided a power-play assist, two hits and two PIM in Friday's 5-2 win over the Sabres.
Bunting had been held off the scoresheet in his previous two appearances and also missed one game in that span due to an undisclosed injury. The 29-year-old winger has six goals and four assists over his last 11 outings, and seven of those points have come on the power play. He's up to 26 points (13 on the power play), 84 shots on net, 50 hits, 44 PIM and a minus-15 rating through 45 contests.
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Penguins' Michael Bunting: Available to play
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Bunting (undisclosed) will return to the lineup against Seattle on Tuesday, Penguins play-by-play announcer Josh Getzoff reports.
Bunting sat out Sunday's 5-2 loss to Tampa Bay after being involved in a car accident outside PPG Paints Arena. He has registered 13 goals, 25 points, 84 shots on net, 48 hits and 42 PIM through 43 appearances this season. With Bunting back and Evgeni Malkin (upper body) considered a game-time decision, Jesse Puljujarvi and Matt Nieto could be healthy scratches versus the Kraken.
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Penguins' Michael Bunting: Not playing Sunday
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Bunting (undisclosed) won't play against Tampa Bay on Sunday, according to Michelle Crechiolo of the Penguins' official site.
Bunting was involved in a car accident Sunday outside PPG Paints Arena. Coach Mike Sullivan told the media that Bunting is doing okay, but the 29-year-old forward will miss at least one game. Bunting has 13 goals, 25 points, 84 shots on net, 48 hits and 42 PIM through 43 appearances this season. Philip Tomasino (lower body) will replace Bunting in Sunday's lineup.
Penguins' Michael Bunting: Strikes on power play Tuesday
Rotowire
Bunting scored a power-play goal on three shots in Tuesday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Blue Jackets.
Bunting tied the game at 1-1 early in the second period. The winger has six goals and two assists over his last seven games, and five of those eight points have come on the power play. Bunting figures to stay productive as long as he's on the top power-play unit, though a second-line role at even strength is also a good spot. The 29-year-old has 13 tallies, 24 points (11 on the power play), 81 shots on net, 46 hits, 32 PIM and a minus-11 rating through 41 appearances. He's behind last year's 55-point pace, but Bunting has momentum on his side heading into the second half of 2024-25.
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Penguins' Michael Bunting: Tallies in overtime loss
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Bunting scored a goal in Sunday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Hurricanes.
Bunting has five goals and two assists over his last six games. Four of those seven points have come on the power play, but his goal Sunday was at even strength to give the Penguins a 2-0 lead at 5:08 of the first period. The winger is up to 12 goals, 23 points, 78 shots on net, 45 hits, 32 PIM and a minus-11 rating through 40 appearances. He'll continue to have decent fantasy value both for his offense and his agitation skills as long as he plays in a top-six role.
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Penguins' Michael Bunting: Two points Sunday
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Bunting scored a power-play goal and added an even-strength assist in Sunday's 3-2 win over the Islanders.
Bunting found the back of the net early in the second period, and he'll go down in history as the player who scored the goal that Sidney Crosby assisted on to become the Penguins' all-time leader in assists. This was Bunting's 11th goal of the season, and it also extended a very productive stretch since he's found the back of the net in his last three contests. He's up to 11 points (six goals, five helpers) in 12 games in December.
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Penguins' Michael Bunting: Reaches 10-goal mark
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Bunting scored a power-play goal on two shots, added two hits and went minus-2 in Saturday's 6-3 loss to the Islanders.
Bunting has three goals over his last two games and a total of 12 points, including six on the power play, across his last 12 outings. His goal Saturday tied the contest at 1-1 in the third period. This resurgence has Bunting up to 19 points (eight on the power play), 75 shots on net, 43 hits, 30 PIM and a minus-11 rating in 36 appearances. He can bring both offense and agitation, leading to a few avenues of production for fantasy purposes.
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Penguins' Michael Bunting: Game finally heating up
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Bunting scored twice Monday in a 7-3 win over the Flyers.
Bunting's first pushed the Penguins up 3-1 in the first period when he tapped in a pass from Evgeni Malkin on the power play. His second pushed the Pens up 5-3 at the end of the second frame. Bunting's start to the season was coated with ice, but he's warmed up with 11 points (five goals, six assists) in his last 11 games, and five of those points have come on the man advantage. Bunting seems to be getting his feet under him, and that's great news for patient managers.
