Bunting signed a three-year, $13.5 million deal with the Hurricanes on Saturday, per Pierre LeBrun of TSN.

EDGE Analysis

The deal carries an AAV of $4.5 million. The 27-year-old Bunting tallied 23 goals and 26 assists in 82 games last season with Toronto. He'll bring some scoring upside and a physical presence (85 hits, 103 PIM) to Carolina's bottom six in 2023-24.

Bunting scored a goal on two shots in Tuesday's Game 1 defeat to the Panthers.

EDGE Analysis

Bunting brought his four-game pointless streak to an end with Tuesday's marker. After returning from his three-game suspension, the Ontario native spent an additional game watching from the sidelines as a healthy scratch. As such, Bunting is far from a lock for the lineup even after scoring in Game 1.

Bunting (healthy scratch) played 16:21 in Saturday's 2-1 overtime win over the Lightning in Game 6.

EDGE Analysis

He slotted back into the top six and also saw 1:37 on the power play. He laid two hits and fired one shot. Bunting did a solid job keeping his cool and will need to continue to do more of that in Round 2 once the Leafs know their opponent. One of the Bruins or Panthers will emerge as its combatant after Sunday's Game 7 matchup.

Although Bunting is eligible to return from his three-game suspension, Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe won't use him in Game 5 against Tampa Bay on Thursday, David Alter of Sports Illustrated reports.

EDGE Analysis

After the Maple Leafs dropped Game 1 with Bunting in the lineup, they won three straight contests during his suspension. Keefe presumably doesn't want to disrupt a winning lineup, but the coach does plan to put Bunting back in eventually. The 27-year-old had 23 goals and 49 points in 82 regular-season outings.

Bunting has served his three-game suspension and will be available for Game 5 against the Lightning on Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

Bunting should return to his spot on the first line alongside Auston Matthews and Mitchell Marner despite having scored just once in his last eight contests. Still, the emergence of Matthew Knies could factor into the team's decision on whether or not to put Bunting back in that spot on the top line.

Bunting was handed a three-game suspension by the NHL on Wednesday for an illegal check to the head and interference against Tampa Bay's Erik Cernak during Game 1 on Tuesday.

EDGE Analysis

The incident occurred late in the second period, and Bunting was given a match penalty as a result of the play. The Leafs forward will be eligible to return for Game 5 on April 27, provided that contest is necessary. While Bunting is out, Wayne Simmonds or Matthew Knies might draw into the lineup.

Bunting will have a hearing with the Department of Player Safety for an illegal check to the head and interference against the Lightning's Erik Cernak in Tuesday's Game 1.

EDGE Analysis

Bunting was given a match penalty on the play, but it appears that more discipline could be coming. The ruling should be available at some time Wednesday. If Bunting is ultimately suspended, Matthew Knies or Wayne Simmonds could enter the Maple Leafs' lineup.

Bunting scored the game-winning goal Saturday in a 3-0 victory over the Senators.

EDGE Analysis

Bunting hasn't been able to replicate his offensive success from last season (23 goals, 40 assists; 63 points), but his role has changed. Calle Jarnkrok has taken his spot alongside Auston Matthews, and Bunting has shuffled through several lines. Still, he has 22 goals this season and that's just one off his career mark (23) from last season.

Bunting scored a power-play goal in Thursday's 6-2 win over Florida.

EDGE Analysis

Bunting fired a shot from the slot on a 5-on-3 power play for his first goal in seven games and just his second in his last 13 (five points). He has struggled to find his footing offensively of late as he works to try to change his reputation. Bunting can still be pest and get under the skin of opponents, but he needs to find a way to keep officials from calling offsetting penalties on him, too. It's a work in progress.

Bunting notched two assists, two shots on goal and a plus-2 rating in Sunday's 5-1 win over the Kraken.

EDGE Analysis

Bunting ended up with a team-low 12:23 of ice time, but that was because head coach Sheldon Keefe was able to balance out the minutes in a dominant win. The 27-year-old Bunting had helpers on goals by Timothy Liljegren and Auston Matthews. Over nine games in February, Bunting has registered four goals and three assists in his usual top-line role. He's at 42 points, 122 shots on net, 57 hits, 68 PIM and a plus-26 rating through 60 contests overall.