Leafs may consider eight-year deal with Bunting when talks open

After a breakout season in Toronto, it appears the Maple Leafs and forward Michael Bunting could explore a max-length extension this year.

Bunting is entering the last of a two-year deal carrying a $950,000 cap hit signed with the Maple Leafs as an unrestricted free agent last summer. He broke out in his first season of the deal, posting a career-high 23 goals with 63 points in 79 games. 

TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun notes the Maple Leafs have yet to open talks with the pending unrestricted free agent, but an eight-year deal could be on the table once extension talks begin.

"We’re talking about Michael Bunting, who is a pending unrestricted free agent already," LeBrun said on Insider Trading Tuesday. "They took a flyer on him a year ago and his deal is up after this season while making only $950,000. He’s in for a raise after a 63-point season last year playing on the Leafs’ top line. I think the Leafs are open to that idea whenever the conversation begins with [Bunting’s] camp. I should note there have been no contract talks between the Leafs and his camp.

"I think they’re open to talk about what an eight-year deal would look like to bring down the AAV and bring down the cap hit. What’s interesting is that I think that [Bunting’s] camp might be interested at looking at eight years because at age 27, this will be Bunting’s one big opportunity at free agency, and I think he wants to remain a Maple Leaf. I think that’s an interesting conversation once it happens."

Bunting added one goal and three points in six playoff games last spring after previously playing in a total of 26 NHL games in his career with the Arizona Coyotes.

The Coyotes elected not to tender the Scarborough, Ont. native last summer after he posted 10 goals and 13 points in 21 games during the 2020-21 campaign. He also had seven goals and 19 points in 16 games with the AHL's Tucson Roadrunners that season.

Bunting was drafted by Arizona in the fourth round of the 2014 draft and made his debut during the 2018-19 season, posting one goal in five games.

Maple Leafs Cap Outlook

Toronto currently has just five forwards under contract beyond this season in Auston Matthews, John Tavares, Mitch Marner, William Nylander and Calle Jarnkrok.  Those five, however, account for a combined cap hit of $42.6 million. 

Of the group, Jarnkrok currently has the most term remaining after signing a four-year deal with a $2.1 million cap hit in free agency this summer. Matthews and Nylander are set to see their deals expire in 2024, with Tavares and Marner scheduled for unrestricted free agency in 2025.

With only Justin Holl set to come off the books on defence and Ilya Samonov at goaltender, the Maple Leafs currently have $73.18 million already committed to next year's cap in 11 players, per CapFriendly.