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Maple Leafs sign Petr Mrazek, value forward Michael Bunting

TORONTO — The Toronto Maple Leafs wasted no time filling their No. 1 need in free agency Wednesday.

The club has agreed to a three-year contract with UFA Petr Mrazek, who walks from the Carolina Hurricanes for a new deal reportedly worth $3.8 million annually. Kevin Weekes was first to report the news.

Former Maple Leaf Frederik Andersen has signed with the Hurricanes for two years and $9 million, completing a UFA goalie swap. Carolina also agreed to a deal with UFA Antti Raanta, forming a completely new tandem.

“We need to find a competent partner for Jack Campbell and let them battle it out. Obviously, Jack had a great season. We have a lot of belief in Jack and look forward to him continuing to take steps next year. But we need to address that,” Toronto general manager Kyle Dubas said last week.

“It is making sure we are bolstered on that end to set the goalies up for success.”

Mrazek, 29, is well accustomed to playing in a 1A/1B tandem and is set to enter the season with more security, experience and bigger paycheques than Campbell, whose $1.65-million contract ends in 2022.

Mrazek posted a 6-2-3 record with three shutouts and a .923 save percentage for the Hurricanes in an injury-plagued 2020-21.

He underwent surgery on his right thumb in February and returned in April.

Mrazek appeared in just two 2021 playoff games, posting a .873 save percentage, and ultimately lost his starting job in crunch time to the up-and-coming Alex Nedeljkovic — who was subsequently dealt to the Detroit Red Wings in a cost-cutting move last week.

With Andersen off the books, the Leafs are saving $1.2 million on their goaltending tandem year over year.

Toronto also explored a trade for Arizona netminder Darcy Kuemper but deemed the price too high.

Leafs sign value winger Bunting

Never forget where you came from.

The life motto Michael Bunting has tagged to his social media bios appears to be doubling as foreshadowing for the Scarborough, Ont., native and unrestricted free agent.

After walking away from the Arizona Coyotes and fielding interest from multiple suitors, Bunting has signed with his hometown Maple Leafs.

It’s a two-year pact carrying a cap hit of $950,000.

Spending his entire career under the radar, the late-blooming Bunting was drafted 160th overall in the 2013 OHL draft by then — Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds GM Kyle Dubas.

Under then-Soo coach Sheldon Keefe, Bunting flourished offensively, racking up 116 points over his 105 OHL games played.

The connections are obvious, and the price should be right.

“It all comes down to value,” Dubas said last week of his free agency strategy.

Barring a trade off the roster (Alexander Kerfoot’s name has surfaced in rumours), the top-heavy Maple Leafs have roughly $4.6 million in their account to complete their 2021-22 lineup.

So, the club is waving adieu to UFAs Zach Hyman (seven years at $5.5 million in Edmonton), Alex Galchenyuk (exploring an eighth NHL franchise), Zach Bogosian (rejoining Tampa Bay for cheap), and possibly Nick Foligno (another Wild target).

Well, what about Bunting?

The 25-year-old left wing was a fourth-round choice by the Coyotes in 2014. He has spent at least part of the past six seasons in the AHL and has never put pen to paper on a one-way contract at the NHL level.

At five-foot-11 and 197 pounds, he’s a blue-collar-style player with legitimate blue-collar roots.

His mom, Lynda, was a bookkeeper at a local store. His dad, Andy, collected garbage for the city.

Despite growing up in the mecca, Bunting played high-school hockey for most of his formative years because AAA in the GTHL is so cost-prohibitive.

“I still remember the day,” Bunting told NHL.com of his tryout with the AAA Don Mills Flyers. “They showed me how much it would cost. I said, OK, I’ll talk to you guys later. I don’t think I’m going to play.’ “

The Flyers worked out a payment plan, Bunting’s stock rose with his game, and he remains indebted.

Never forget where you came from.

Bunting fell into that rare Group VI group of free agents composed players who have played at least three pro seasons but fewer than 80 NHL games prior to turning 25.

Honing his skills in AHL Tuscon, Bunting quietly broke out in 2021, scoring 10 goals and registering nine takeaways (plus three assists) in 21 games while skating more than 15 minutes a night for a struggling Coyotes club.

He’s been primarily used in offensive situations (68.9 percent of his shifts start in the O-zone) and could either stick in the Leafs’ middle six or face a similar fate as, say, a Nic Petan — an AHL/NHL tweener who went unqualified by Toronto Monday after multiple big-league opportunities.

Bunting’s high shooting percentage (26.3) could be viewed as a red flag or an indication of his willingness to drive to the greasy areas.

“He just looked himself in the mirror last year and said, ‘I’ve got to be more professional and I’ve got to get myself ready to play,’” former coach Rick Tocchet told Ken Campbell in May. “Came in in great shape, was sent down right away, no attitude. He was the best player in Tucson and [Roadrunners coach] Steve Potvin couldn’t say enough about him.

“A guy willing to go to the net. If you look at his goals, they’re all near the front of the net.”

A new NHL contract marks a wonderful summer for Bunting, who won a world championship gold medal with Team Canada in June.

One-Timers

• The Maple Leafs signed depth centre Michael Amadio to a two-way, one-year deal worth $750,000 at the NHL level. Amadio, 25, split his 2020-21 season between the Kings and Senators, posting three assists in 25 games.

• Toronto is still in the mix for a number of two-way forwards with more NHL experience than Bunting, but their UFA targets are flying off the shelf. Mikael Granlund re-upped in Nashvill, and Nick Bonino is heading to the Sharks.

• Dubas is walking away from Hyman without trading his rights to Ken Holland. The Oilers GM’s best offer was reportedly two draft picks, including one in the top five rounds.

• The Maple Leafs acquired the rights to defenceman Brennan Menell from Minnesota in exchange for a conditional seventh-round selection in 2022. The selection will be transferred to Minnesota in the event Menell plays in 30 games for the Maple Leafs this season. Menell, 24, ranked second among KHL defencemen with 38 points (five goals, 33 assists) in 47 regular season games, and added seven points (one goal, six assists) in five playoff games with Dinamo Minsk. He played five games total with the Wild and is still looking for his first NHL point.

• The 2022 third-round pick Toronto spent to rent goalie David Rittich at the 2021 trade deadline was used by the Calgary Flames to acquire Chicago defenceman Nikita Zadorov.

• Toronto is reportedly interested in signing local talent and former New York Islanders prospect Josh Ho-Sang to a professional tryout.

The post Maple Leafs sign Petr Mrazek, value forward Michael Bunting appeared first on Sports News & Articles – Scores, Pictures, Videos - SportsNews8.com.

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