Unpacking forward Michael Bunting's first appearance for Nashville Predators since trade
The Nashville Predators saw their four-game winning streak end with a 2-1 loss at the Anaheim Ducks on Friday, but it did provide the first appearance of Michael Bunting.
Bunting was acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins last week along with a fourth-round pick in 2026 in exchange for defenseman Luke Schenn and forward Tommy Novak. The 29-year-old forward had been out of action since undergoing an appendectomy on Feb. 27 when he was still with the Penguins.
Against the Ducks, Bunting finished with four shot attempts and one shot on goal in 15:07 minutes while playing on a line with Fedor Svechkov and Jakob Vrana.
Vrana, another newcomer to the lineup, scored his first goal for Nashville, a power play tallied that tied the game early in the third period.
Vrana said he liked what Bunting brought to the lineup.
"(Bunting) didn't play for like two weeks, but he looked pretty good," Vrana said to FanDuel Sports Network. "I know how it feels when you don't play for a while. He worked hard and we had some looks. He's really good around the net and with the puck. We had the looks, it just didn't go in."
Bunting's only shot of the game came in the first period on a good scoring chance for the Predators. Taking an entry pass from Fedor Svechkov, Bunting sped through the zone, then looked to lift the puck over Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal's left pad. He didn't quite enough on it and Dostal made the save, but it illustrated well what Bunting brings to the lineup: speed and counter-attacking ability.
Predators general manager Barry Trotz explained that his trade with Pittsburgh was more about acquiring Bunting than offloading Novak and Schenn.
"(Michael Bunting) has a little of that sandpaper," Trotz told the Tennessean last week. "(Bunting and Novak) score about the same, but I felt that there was an element that I can use (with Bunting). Plus he's a one-year guy, so it gives me more flexibility."
Bunting, 29, was a fourth-round pick by Arizona in 2014. In 326 games with the Coyotes, Maple Leafs, Hurricanes, and Penguins, he scored 90 goals and added 120 assists while averaging 15:34 minutes per game. He signed a three-year, $13.5 million contract with Carolina in 2023 and will be an unrestricted free agent in 2026.
TROTZ ON TRADE: Barry Trotz on why Predators traded Luke Schenn, Tommy Novak, acquired Michael Bunting
Next up, Nashville (25-33-7, 57 points) plays the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday (7 p.m. CT, FanDuel Sports Network).
Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Alex atjdaugherty@gannett.com. Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @alexdaugherty1. Also check out our Predators exclusive Instagram page @tennessean_preds.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: How Michael Bunting looked in Nashville Predators debut
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