According to TSN hockey insider Pierre LeBrun, the Toronto Maples are interested in talking to Michael Bunting about a long-term extension. While the two sides haven’t engaged in talks just yet, the pending UFA is due for a healthy raise next season and the organization is hoping to keep him around without having to offer an insane number for a player who is likely to hit his third 20-plus goal season and could up his production from the 63 points he posted in 2021-22.

LeBrun notes:

“I think they’re open to talk about what an eight-year deal would look like to bring down the AAV and bring down the cap hit. What’s interesting is that I think that camp might be interested at looking at eight years because at age 27, this will be Bunting’s one big opportunity at free agency, and I think he wants to remain a Maple Leaf. I think that’s an interesting conversation once it happens.”

This Could Create a Massive Challenge For the Maple Leafs

Bunting is not a player who the Maple Leafs will need to find $1 or $2 million for. This is a player who will go from $950K to somewhere between $3.5 million and upwards of $5.5 million on a long-term extension. That kind of jump will be felt in other places on the roster and that means sacrificing a few members of the team who are key depth pieces.

This is all assuming Bunting isn’t looking to test the free agency market. While some Maple Leafs’ fans are pointing to Nick Paul‘s recent deal in Tampa Bay as a possible comparison, that would be unlikely considering the difference in the two player’s production. The good news is that LeBrun’s comments suggest Bunting is interested in staying with the team. At the same time, the organization has lost key members of its roster in two consecutive offseasons and not every departure was pretty. Lowballing the player may have a negative outcome.