The Ottawa Senators have already made one major move this offseason by sending Brady Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers, and that trade left a clear hole in more than just the lineup. Tkachuk’s edge is gone, and if Ottawa wants to keep some of that bite in the room, it may need to look at a player with a familiar name from the other side of the rivalry.
That’s where Michael Bunting comes in.
The former Toronto Maple Leafs forward is a pending unrestricted free agent who could make sense for the Senators as a middle-six addition. He brings secondary scoring, but just as importantly for Ottawa, he plays with a hard edge and isn’t shy about the rough stuff. With William Eklund already brought in from the San Jose Sharks to help replace the offense lost in the Tkachuk deal, Bunting would be more about adding toughness than pure skill.
There’s also a bounce-back angle here. Bunting, 30, had a quieter season than usual in 2025-26, finishing with 14 goals and 33 points in 74 games between the Nashville Predators and Dallas Stars.
That stood out because he had been much more productive in the seasons before that. From 2021-22 through 2024-25, he scored at least 19 goals every year.
He also put up 49 points or more from 2021-22 to 2023-24, including a 55-point season in 2023-24.
That kind of recent track record is exactly why he could be worth a look on a short-term deal. If Ottawa is searching for a player who can help round out the top nine while bringing some sandpaper back into the mix, Bunting fits the profile. And yes, the added wrinkle is obvious: he once skated for the Maple Leafs, making him a former rival who could end up wearing Senators colors.
In Other News...
Brady Tkachuk Is Headed For One Brutal Panthers Road Game
Brady Tkachuks next trip back to Ottawa is already shaping up as one of the most charged nights on the Senators schedule. After the way his trade request landed with fans in June, the former captain is not exactly walking into a warm welcome, and the reaction figures to be loud from the moment he steps on the ice.
The tension around his return goes beyond the usual bad blood that comes with a star moving on. Ottawa supporters have had plenty of time to sit with the way the situation played out publicly, and with Tkachuk now set to come back in another sweater, the building should make its feelings known early and often. [Read more 🡒]
Senators Finally Settle Two Lingering First Round Prospect Questions
The Senators took care of a pair of long-running prospect questions this week, signing restricted free agents Xavier Bourgault and Tyler Boucher to one-year, two-way contracts at the league minimum. For Ottawa, it is a straightforward move on paper, but one that finally gives both former first-round picks a clearer next step as they try to turn promise into something more concrete within the organization.
Both players are expected to remain part of the Belleville pipeline, where the Senators will keep watching for signs of progress after uneven early pro careers. The contracts also fit into a busy stretch around the organization, with the Ottawa Charge adding winger Sarah Wozniewicz on a three-year deal, Travis Green being honored in B.C., and Belleville's 2026-27 AHL schedule now on the books, even if the most interesting part of the Bourgault-Boucher story is still what comes next. [Read more 🡒]