Could a Toronto Reunion be in the cards for former Leaf Michael Bunting?: Leafs Morning Take
Andrei Svechnikov potted the overtime winner as the Carolina Hurricanes edged the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final to grab a 2-1 series lead.
That’s where the conversation started on the Tuesday edition of Leafs Morning Take, as David Pagnotta filled in for Jay Rosehill. For the second straight game, the Hurricanes dominated puck possession, heavily outshooting Montreal en route to another overtime victory. Carolina’s stifling defensive structure continues to be a defining trait of the organization and a major reason why they’re now two wins away from the Stanley Cup Final.
Meantime, over in the Western Conference Final, Colorado — who captured the Presidents’ Trophy this season — is on life support. We discussed whether they have any chance of mounting a comeback against Vegas. Most importantly, we dissected what this could mean — if anything — for Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar. Of course, the Leafs are still in the early stages of searching for a new head coach, so any potential candidate who could enter the mix immediately becomes a person of interest.
Furthermore, Pagnotta addressed the latest surrounding the Max Domi situation, noting he couldn’t get into specifics but describing it as “very serious.” He added there is a real possibility Domi could miss an extended period of time next season. He also weighed in on the ongoing discourse around Auston Matthews, which isn’t new territory for regular viewers of the show, and touched on whether there’s any connection to Craig Berube’s departure. Finally, Pagnotta provided an update on Scott Laughton’s extension talks with Los Angeles and what a potential deal could look like moving forward.
After that, former Maple Leaf Michael Bunting stopped by to discuss his upcoming free agency, the NHL’s rising cap, and the state of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He also reacted to Mitch Marner’s playoff run in Vegas and reflected on his time in Toronto playing alongside Marner and Auston Matthews. The Scarborough native spoke candidly about embracing the pressure of playing in Toronto, calling the spotlight “fun” given how much he grew up around it. Bunting also revisited his 2023 departure from the Maple Leafs, noting the team didn’t circle back in free agency due to cap constraints, while still emphasizing how meaningful his time in Toronto was. He also shared a light moment about his relationship with Leafs GM John Chayka from their Arizona days, rounding out a wide-ranging conversation on his career and what comes next in free agency.
Plenty ahead on the Wednesday edition of Leafs Morning Take as Jay Rosehill will return to the mix. Firstly, we’ll recap Game 4 of the Western Conference Final before previewing Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final. Plus, we’ll tackle the latest on the Maple Leafs front, too.