Playoffs Round 1: Toronto Maple Leafs (A2) vs Tampa Bay Lightning (A3)

[lamajama]

Seems consistent for the NHL ruling against the Leafs anyway.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Seems like a game too long, but hey the league might actually be doing us a favour here.

 

[Bender]

Seems like a game too long, but hey the league might actually be doing us a favour here.

I was thinking the same thing. Honestly don't wanna see him in a uniform again. He's lost his mind for the last 2 months anyway and getting rewarded by starting with Matthews and Marner was just insane by Keefe.

 

[Guilt Trip]

https://twitter.com/nhlplayersafety/status/1648815612192522240

Well that seems consistent. Isn't that what Kadri got the first time?

Kadri got 3 games for trying to drive his ass through Wingels head into the boards. Is not consistent. This is Bunting's first suspension, thay was Kadri's 4th.

 

[Bill33]

https://twitter.com/nhlplayersafety/status/1648815612192522240

Well that seems consistent. Isn't that what Kadri got the first time?

Kadri got 3 games for trying to drive his ass through Wingels head into the boards. Is not consistent. This is Bunting's first suspension, thay was Kadri's 4th.

I think they suspend to the injury and significance of player somewhat. Cernak is an important player for the Bolts, he had to leave the game, and it sounds like he could miss the next one. I'm not sure if Wingels missed a lot, or any time after Kadri's hit.

Anyway, I've got no time for anyone that makes that play, on any team, so whatever they chose to give him is fine by me.

 

[Kaberle15]

https://twitter.com/ScoutingTheRefs/status/1648695273609109509?t=0zxTP8_xZhPLrc24ONoDSg&s=19

 

[cabber24]

Seems consistent for the NHL ruling against the Leafs anyway.

Seems consistent for the NHL ruling against the Leafs anyway.

3 PLAYOFF games is wildly high for a first offender. Unbelievably inconsistent. I hate the way the league is run. The league not allowing Woll to dress was ridiculous too. Hartman is scoring OT goals while the guy he injured with a cheap shot is still injured. Stone miraculously healthy circumventing the cap by 9.5M? The refs are atrocious league wide, a hockey team in PHX, the superimposed advertising. I watch to see the players Everything else keeps getting in the way.

 

[Deebo]

2 regular season games for this:

https://twitter.com/Sportsnet/status/1456689291376091137

 

[Bill33]

2 regular season games for this:

https://twitter.com/Sportsnet/status/1456689291376091137

Considering I don't think Marner missed a shift, once more, I contend that the in-game optics and severity of the injury appears to be relevant in the decision making, like it or not.

 

[Bill_Berg]

2 regular season games for this:

https://twitter.com/Sportsnet/status/1456689291376091137

Considering I don't think Marner missed a shift, once more, I contend that the in-game optics and severity of the injury appears to be relevant in the decision making, like it or not.

I don't think the dops knows the extent of the injury in this case, but one thing that is consistent is the inconsistency if their decisions. But as I've said before, I'm not too concerned with losing Bunting for a few games.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Seems like a game too long, but hey the league might actually be doing us a favour here.

I was thinking the same thing. Honestly don't wanna see him in a uniform again. He's lost his mind for the last 2 months anyway and getting rewarded by starting with Matthews and Marner was just insane by Keefe.

I'm not in a firm "let him walk" category but the value of his next contract that I would be comfortable with has just been going lower and lower over the past few months.

 

[azzurri63]

Not liking all the crap Bunting has been pulling off the last few months but 3 games I think was a little harsh. Never know what you're going to get from the leagues. Said it before Parros is clueless. Just saw the hit on Ehlers by Hartman and only 1 game for hitting a guy hard unexpectedly and not even in the play or with the puck. Par for the course with this league.

 

[L K]

I might feel differently if Bunting was being an effective player right now but I honestly don't think the Leafs are worse for losing him right now so I don't care as much. 

The three games seems harsh relative to other punishments and that fits a consistent issue with how the league doles out punishment to the Leafs relative to other teams.  But I also want garbage hits to the head out of the game so I'm not going to get mad at a reasonable punishment for stupidity.

 

[Bill33]

I'm not in a firm "let him walk" category but the value of his next contract that I would be comfortable with has just been going lower and lower over the past few months.

Yeah, he's put up a lot of points over the last couple years at a bargain basement cost. I think he's certainly played himself out of a significant payday with the leafs at least, but any offer at all might come down to whether there's a new management group, that would likely not be interested in fielding much of the unsigned roster from the previous gm.

 

[Guilt Trip]

Seems like a game too long, but hey the league might actually be doing us a favour here.

I was thinking the same thing. Honestly don't wanna see him in a uniform again. He's lost his mind for the last 2 months anyway and getting rewarded by starting with Matthews and Marner was just insane by Keefe.

I'm not in a firm "let him walk" category but the value of his next contract that I would be comfortable with has just been going lower and lower over the past few months.

I'm with you. For the right price I want him back. I think he's an effective player. Just has to stop the side show Bob crap like Tucker did late in his career with the Leafs.

 

[Bender]

Seems like a game too long, but hey the league might actually be doing us a favour here.

I was thinking the same thing. Honestly don't wanna see him in a uniform again. He's lost his mind for the last 2 months anyway and getting rewarded by starting with Matthews and Marner was just insane by Keefe.

I'm not in a firm "let him walk" category but the value of his next contract that I would be comfortable with has just been going lower and lower over the past few months.

I'm with you. For the right price I want him back. I think he's an effective player. Just has to stop the side show Bob crap like Tucker did late in his career with the Leafs.

We don't have time for him to figure out his game so he doesn't become a liability, especially not at the cost he'll likely command. If he gets anywhere near $4m per I easily walk.

 

[Guilt Trip]

Seems like a game too long, but hey the league might actually be doing us a favour here.

I was thinking the same thing. Honestly don't wanna see him in a uniform again. He's lost his mind for the last 2 months anyway and getting rewarded by starting with Matthews and Marner was just insane by Keefe.

I'm not in a firm "let him walk" category but the value of his next contract that I would be comfortable with has just been going lower and lower over the past few months.

I'm with you. For the right price I want him back. I think he's an effective player. Just has to stop the side show Bob crap like Tucker did late in his career with the Leafs.

We don't have time for him to figure out his game so he doesn't become a liability, especially not at the cost he'll likely command. If he gets anywhere near $4m per I easily walk.

$4M is not the right price....he's def gone

 

[bustaheims]

We don't have time for him to figure out his game so he doesn't become a liability, especially not at the cost he'll likely command. If he gets anywhere near $4m per I easily walk.

That's basically where I'm at. If we were talking about this 3 or 4 seasons ago, sure, but, at this point? He's not effective enough as an agitator anymore to justify the penalties he takes.

 

[L K]

We don't have time for him to figure out his game so he doesn't become a liability, especially not at the cost he'll likely command. If he gets anywhere near $4m per I easily walk.

That's basically where I'm at. If we were talking about this 3 or 4 seasons ago, sure, but, at this point? He's not effective enough as an agitator anymore to justify the penalties he takes.

An agitator has to be a net positive.

Bunting isn't a bad player but I really didn't see him as a guy generating a lot of his offence this year.  He doesn't really hit guys and his antics are only helpful when he's drawing his penalties.  So right now we have an undersized mouthy guy who is prone to diving.  Yes, he does score better than a typical 3rd/4th line grunt but unless we are getting him at a real bargain (like his current contract) I just don't see how committing 3-4M on him and having to weaken the blue line, or walk away from a guy like Nylander makes sense to spend heavily on a guy like Bunting. 

I'd rather use that money to convince ROR to stay.

 

[ZBBM]

https://mapleleafshotstove.com/2023/04/21/g2-analysis-maple-leafs-lightning/

I think this kid Drain (and he looks like a kid) is an excellent writer and analyst.