If you followed the 2022 Calder Trophy race, you might recall the discourse surrounding then-Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras, then-Toronto Maple Leafs forward Michael Bunting and Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider. Takes ranged from reasonable to downright outrageous as the final votes came in and Seider overwhelmingly ran away with the competition.
Fast forward four years, and quite a bit has changed.
Both Bunting and Zegras are now on new teams, with the former likely finding a new home on July 1 as an unrestricted free agent. Seider, on the other hand, has locked up a long-term deal with the Red Wings as the team's cornerstone defenseman.
While Bunting was both a division and Calder rival in the past, he could very well become an ally soon, should general manger Steve Yzerman choose to sign him.
How Bunting could help the Red Wings
Michael Bunting fills a need the Red Wings have sought for a long time. He's a pesky, physical forward that gets under his opponents' skins. He can play up and down the lineup wherever he's needed. Last season, he was on pace for a 21 goal, 49 point campaign across 82 games.
He brings extra depth scoring and some snarl to the lineup, something the Red Wings have sought since since the first departure of David Perron. His possession metrics show that, despite a lack of finishing last season, he was extremely efficient in the offensive zone.
At 31 years of age, it's unlikely that Bunting produces more in terms of points. Still, to have a middle-six forward with some snarl would greatly benefit the Red Wings.
Why signing Bunting might not be a good idea
Bunting carries the same baggage that someone like Anthony Mantha brings to the table. He's an older forward in his early 30s that's struggled with finishing -- something that the Red Wings have struggled with on a much larger scale.
To make matters worse, his contract will come at a cost. AFP Analytics has his contract somewhere within the $4.5-5M range at four years. When looking at those numbers, the question becomes quite clear: how many 30+-year-old middle-six Red Wings already exist in the system?
The team already has Andrew Copp, J.T. Compher and Mason Appleton signed to term, with guys like Michael Rasmussen waiting in the wings to fill that role.
Additionally, the Red Wings already have this archetype of player in the system. If someone like Marco Kasper, Michael Brandsegg-Nygard or Carter Mazur pans out, they can easily fill the "pesky winger that can also score" role. The system players are younger and can come in at a much more affordable rate, giving the Red Wings plenty of flexibility to round out the rest of the roster.
At this point in the rebuild, locking down Bunting to a long-term deal seems like a contract that could age horribly in just a few seasons.
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