Michael Bunting will sign a three-year, $13.5 million contract with the Carolina Hurricanes, general manager Don Waddell said Saturday. It has an average annual value of $4.5 million.
The 27-year-old forward had 49 points (23 goals, 26 assists) in 82 regular-season games for the Toronto Maple Leafs last season and two points (one goal, one assist) in seven Stanley Cup Playoff games.
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Bunting was a finalist for the 2022 Calder Trophy, awarded to the top rookie in the NHL, after he led first-year players in points (63), was second in assists (40) and tied for second in goals (23).
“We want to add good players,” Waddell said, “because to win hockey games, unless the rules change this summer, you’ve got to score more goals than the other team. So, you want to make sure you get a player that can contribute offensively. He just had that extra knack, the way he plays, that’s something that we definitely wanted and (coach) Rod [Brind’Amour] wanted and so that was a bonus to be able to get that type of player.”
Selected by the Arizona Coyotes in the fourth round (No. 117) of the 2014 NHL Draft, Bunting has 126 points (57 goals, 69 assists) in 187 regular-season games for the Maple Leafs and Coyotes and five points (two goals, three assists) in 12 playoff games.
The Hurricanes also signed defenseman Dmitry Orlov to a two-year contract ($7.75 million AAV), goalie Frederik Andersen to a two-year contract ($3.4 million AAV), goalie Antti Raanta to a one-year, $1.8 million contract and forward Jesper Fast to a two-year contract ($2.4 million AAV).
Orlov, 31, had 36 points (seven goals, 29 assists) in 66 games with the Washington Capitals and Boston Bruins last season, including 17 points (four goals, 13 assists) in 23 games after being acquired in a trade with the Capitals on Feb. 23, and eight assists in seven playoff games.
Andersen, 33, was 21-11-1 with a 2.48 goals-against average, .903 save percentage and one shutout in 34 regular-season games (33 starts) for the Hurricanes last season and 5-3 with a 1.83 GAA and .927 save percentage in nine playoff games.
Raanta, 34, was 19-3-3 with a 2.23 GAA, .910 save percentage and four shutouts in 27 games (26 starts) with Carolina last season and 3-3 wtih a 2.48 GAA and .909 save percentage in six playoff games.
Fast, 31, had 29 points (10 goals, 19 assists) in 80 games with the Hurricanes and nine points (six goals, three assists) in 15 playoff games.
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