Michael Bunting

Michael Bunting (born September 17, 1995) is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger. He is currently playing with the Tucson Roadrunners in the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect within the Arizona Coyotes of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Bunting played midget hockey with the Don Mill Flyers in the Greater Toronto Hockey League, capturing the Association championship during the 2012–13 season before he was selected 160th overall in the 2013 OHL Priority Selection by the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

In his rookie major junior season with the Greyhounds in the 2013–14 season, Bunting produced near a point-per-game pace with the Greyhounds with 42 in 48 games. He was selected in the fourth-round, 117th overall, in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, by the Arizona Coyotes.

During the 2014–15 season, Bunting as an alternate captain with the Greyhounds, led the team in goals with 37 in just 57 games. Finishing with 74 points, he was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract with the Arizona Coyotes on July 23, 2015.

In his first professional season in 2015–16, Bunting joined the Coyotes American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Springfield Falcons. He was soon reassigned for a shortened stint with the Rapid City Rush in the ECHL, before returning to record his first AHL goal on December 6, 2015, against the Providence Bruins.

At the conclusion of his entry-level contract with the Coyotes, Bunting as a restricted free agent was re-signed to a one-year, two-way contract to remain in the organization on July 14, 2018. In the 2018–19 season, continuing with the Coyotes affiliate the Tucson Roadrunners, Bunting made his 200th appearance in the AHL against the Bakersfield Condors on October 13, 2018. While placing second on team scoring with 18 through 20 games, Bunting received his maiden recall to the NHL, by the injury-depleted Coyotes on December 8, 2018.