The NHL offseason provides a lengthy period of rest and recovery, vacations, and for some, special celebrations.
This was certainly the case for former Toronto Maple Leafs forward Michael Bunting, who found himself at the center of a joyous occasion, marrying his now-wife, Jordan – the couple announced on Instagram Sunday.
Instagram.com/@sunnyraemarshall
Those in attendance at the event included family, friends, and from what can be seen, a couple of current and former members of the Maple Leafs. In a story posted by Stephanie Marner, Mitch Marner’s wife, the video showcases the bubbly personality of Bunting, that Leafs nation came to love during his time in Toronto. Though Marner isn’t pictured, his relationship with the Scarborough, native, when he was in Toronto didn’t go unnoticed as he was presumably in attendance.
Former Leafs director of scouting Wes Clark, who now oversees the club’s amateur, professional and college/European free-agent scouting departments in Pittsburgh, was also present for the special occasion. Clark posted on his own Instagram story, “Special day for the kid.”
Instagram.com/@weseclark
Bunting spent two seasons in Toronto, donning his hometown team. In a Maple Leafs uniform, he played in a combined 174 regular and postseason games. Over his tenure, he scored 48 goals and added 69 assists for 117 points.
Following back-to-back 20-plus goal seasons, he was due for a pay raise – the biggest of his career. Bunting would sign a three-year, $13.5 million contract with the Carolina Hurricanes during the 2023 free-agency period before being traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in March 2024 as a part of the deal that sent Jake Guentzel to Raleigh.
Split between the Hurricanes and the Penguins, Bunting scored 19 goals and tallied 36 assists, totaling 55 points in 81 games in the 2023-24 season. With two years left on his deal, he is reunited with former Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas in addition to Clark as he seeks to play a crucial role in the club’s top six going forward.
We at The Hockey News wish the Bunting family all the best as they embark on the next chapter of their lives together.
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