Michael Bunting

Where he fits on Philadelphia right now.

What he does better or worse than most players at his position.

Every rating, against other forwards.

This season’s 2 games blended with last season’s 74, and pulled toward the average forward by an amount that depends on how quickly each rating settles.

He played for Nashville Predators last season. Habits that travel with a player (shooting, hitting, penalties) still use that season in full; setting up goals, finishing, faceoffs and power-play chances depend more on linemates and role, so they lean on it less. We measured how much each one carries over for players who change teams.

Shooting volume, creating his own chances, shot blocking, hardest shot and distance skated compare wingers with wingers, because centers and wingers really differ there. Everything else compares all forwards.

This season’s 2 games only, pulled toward the average forward. Expect wide ranges this early.

Driving play at 5-on-5

• Creating chances
  Along for the rideDrives play

  −0.04 expected goals /60bottom 35%

  −0.03 expected goals /60too few games

• Preventing chances
  Chances against riseShuts it down

  +0.04 expected goals against /60bottom 33%

  −0.03 expected goals against /60too few games

Scoring

• Shooting volume
  Rarely shootsFires away

  15.6 shot attempts /60top 17%

  13.7 shot attempts /60too few games

• Creating his own chances
  Few chancesDangerous

  0.69 expected goals /60bottom 31%

  0.74 expected goals /60too few games

• Finishing
  Below expectedSniper

  −0.4 goals above expected /100 shotstop 44%

  −0.4 goals above expected /100 shotstoo few games

• Setting up goals
  Rarely sets upPlaymaker

  0.62 first assists /60top 25%

  0.56 first assists /60too few games

Special teams

• Power-play chances
  QuietThreat

  1.80 expected goals /60average

  1.82 expected goals /60too few games

• Shorthanded threat
  Pure defensePower kill

  0.89 expected goals for /60too few games

  0.89 expected goals for /60too few games

Physical and puck

• Hitting
  Avoids contactPhysical

  hitting score 43bottom 32%2.53 hits /60bottom 33%

  hitting score 62too few games2.78 hits /60too few games

• Shot blocking
  Rarely blocksShot blocker

  blocking score 83bottom 35%2.09 blocks /60bottom 43%

  blocking score 90too few games0.00 blocks /60too few games

• Takeaways
  RarePuck thief

  takeaway score 73bottom 14%0.66 takeaways /60bottom 18%

  takeaway score 97too few games0.00 takeaways /60too few games

Penalties and faceoffs

• Drawing penalties
  RarelyDraws calls

  1.23 penalties drawn /60top 9%

  0.77 penalties drawn /60too few games

• Staying out of the box
  Often penalizedClean

  0.71 penalties taken /60bottom 43%

  0.81 penalties taken /60too few games

• Faceoffs
  Loses drawsWins draws

  47.2% wontoo few games

  50.0% wontoo few games

Hitting, shot blocking and takeaways are arena-adjusted scores (100 is the average forward); switch “Hits and takeaways” to Raw in the settings to see the numbers as recorded. How the ratings work.

Where his shots come from, and how his misses miss.

Speed, bursts, shot power and where he spends his shifts, from the NHL’s own tracking (NHL EDGE).

• Top speed
  SlowerBurner

  22.5 mphaverage

  22.3 mphtoo few games

• Fast bursts
  RareFrequent

  4.2 bursts /60bottom 37%

  2.8 bursts /60too few games

• Hardest shot
  SofterCannon

  86.4 mphbottom 34%

  55.6 mphtoo few games

• Distance skated
  ShorterCovers ground

  9.17 miles /60bottom 17%

  4.68 miles /60too few games

• Time in the offensive zone
  DefendingAttacking

  44.5% of his timetop 5%

  36.8% of his timetoo few games

Top speed and hardest shot are his best single moments over this season and lastthis season; bursts and distance are per 60 minutes of his ice time. Tracking data: NHL EDGE.