Leafs’ Michael Bunting suspended three games for hit on Erik Cernak

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Michael Bunting has been suspended three games for an illegal check to the head and interference on Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced Wednesday afternoon.
Bunting was assessed a match penalty on the play, which occurred at the 15:40 mark of the second period of Game 1 between the Maple Leafs and Lightning at Scotiabank Arena. Tampa Bay won the game 7–3 to take a 1–0 series lead in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.
Cernak will not play in Game 2 of the series, Lightning head coach Jon Cooper announced in a media availability on Wednesday. This is Bunting’s first NHL suspension, although he was once previously fined $2,000 for embellishment during the 2021–22 season.
The Maple Leafs and Lightning are slated to play Game 2 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto at 7:00 p.m. ET on Thursday.

Toronto’s Michael Bunting has been suspended for 3 playoff games for an Illegal Check to the Head and Interference against Tampa Bay’s Erik Cernak. https://t.co/cEqbrMfeIt
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) April 19, 2023

“This is an illegal check to the head delivered to a player who has no reason to anticipate any contact, let alone contact with sufficient force to cause an injury,” NHL Department of Player Safety head George Parros explained in the video explaining Bunting’s suspension.
The Maple Leafs signed Bunting to a two-year deal as an unrestricted free agent in 2021. The Scarborough, Ont. product has scored …

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Author: Mike Gould / The Leafs Nation

Could past chemistry yield current success on the Leafs 4th line?

Could past chemistry yield current success on the Leafs 4th line?

What makes a great forward line? Regardless of which line it is, chemistry is imperative. Understanding strengths, weaknesses, and tendencies will certainly lead to a higher chance of successfully contributing.
It’s difficult to learn these things in training camp, with multiple line combinations being assessed, and players being thrown into different groups, on different wings, and in different scenarios.
Perhaps familiarity is where a coaching staff should start. It’s why we shall see Bunting-Matthews-Marner to start the year. Below them, there are question marks. John Tavares will miss the Leafs opener, which leaves only Nylander as an obvious 2nd liner. Engvall will also miss the opener, leaving yet another hole up front.
Looking at the rest of the forward group, there doesn’t appear to be much familiarity. Kampf is a lock at centre, and the remaining wingers haven’t spent much time, if any, on his line. Dig a little deeper, however, and you might find a couple of new Leafs that have in fact played together.
Zach Aston Reese (ZAR), who is currently on a PTO, went undrafted before attending Northeastern University and played 4 years for the Huskies. During his time in the NCAA, he made the Hockey East All-Star team twice (one 1st Team, and one 2nd Team). He was a Hobey Baker nominee (the most outstanding NCAA Division 1 player), and was voted Hockey East Player of the Year in his senior season.
That same season, Adam Gaudette made the Hockey East All-Star 3rd team and was beginning to forge his own path in the NCAA a …

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Author: Bennett Jull / The Leafs Nation

Watch the Daily Faceoff Show Free Agency Special here!

It’s day one of free agency and we’re looking forward to seeing what the Toronto Maple Leafs get up to today.
Earlier, we outlined five bargain-bin free agents that could make sense for the Leafs to sign. You can read that story here.
Will the Leafs take a stab at P.K. Subban? Sam Steel? Curtis Lazar? We don’t expect the Leafs to be extremely active today, but they should be in the market to improve their overall depth with a smart, low-risk signing.
With Jack Campbell expected to join the Oilers and plenty more signings coming down the pipeline already, Frank Seravalli and Tyler Yaremchuk, along with plenty of guests are here to give you all the info and smart analysis you need!
You can watch the Daily Faceoff Show Free Agency Special livestream here:

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Author: David Quadrelli / The Leafs Nation