Michael Bunting angers Leafs fans when explaining why he left

One player who will not be back with the Toronto Maple Leafs next season in what will be new general manager Brad Treliving's first year on the job is 2022 Calder Trophy runner up Michael Bunting, who skipped town to sign a three-year contract with the contending Carolina Hurricanes.

Bunting scored 23 goals with 26 assists this season with the Leafs, which was the final year of the two-year, $1.9 million deal he signed under ex-general manager Kyle Dubas. Bunting now joins a Hurricanes team that is a force in the Eastern Conference and came within four wins of advancing to the Stanley Cup Final for what would have been the first time since 2006.

So, why did he leave Toronto? In his words, he wants to win the Stanley Cup, and feels Carolina offers a better opportunity to do so.

“They've been so close for so long. Everyone's goal in this league is to win the Stanley Cup. Once Carolina came in and showed some interest, I was interested as well,” Bunting told NHL Network on Wednesday.

He also said that Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour reached out to him on the first day of free agency, helping to sell him on joining Carolina.

“He actually reached out to me on free agency day once it opened,” Bunting said of the Hurricanes head coach. “He reached out and shared what he thought of what I'd be as a player on the team and how I would fit in. For him to reach out, it made my decision a little easier.”

Just how will Bunting perform in Carolina without all of the extra media scrutiny that came with playing in Toronto? And is he justified in feeling that the Hurricanes are closer to the Cup than the Leafs are?

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