The Edmonton Oilers have reshuffled their roster in ways that would have seemed hard to predict a few months ago. Darnell Nurse got his trade request granted. The goaltending room looks completely different. A handful of depth forwards walked out the door. And through all of it, the central tension of this team hasn’t changed: when Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl aren’t scoring, the Oilers really struggle to find goals.
That was true in 2024. It was true in 2025. And it’s still the question hanging over Edmonton as training camp approaches.
The first wave of free agency gave Stan Bowman plenty to sort out, but one thing he hasn’t addressed is the middle-six scoring hole left by Jack Roslovic. Roslovic put up 21 goals last season, his second straight 20-goal year. That kind of production from a versatile forward doesn’t grow on trees, and Edmonton didn’t really replace it.
Which is where Michael Bunting comes in.
A depth scorer with something to prove
Bunting has scored at least 14 goals in each of the last three seasons. He had back-to-back 19-goal campaigns before this past one, when he split time between the Nashville Predators and the Dallas Stars. His stint in Dallas was quiet — two points in 13 regular season games, one playoff appearance — but context matters.
The guy has been traded three straight seasons. That includes his deadline move to Dallas last year. Some of that instability has to affect a player’s rhythm. Bunting has never had a real chance to settle in anywhere, to know he’s not going to get flipped at the deadline or shipped out in the summer.
Edmonton can offer that. The Oilers are a contending team, which means they’re unlikely to move him midseason unless something goes sideways. For a player in Bunting’s shoes, a little stability could go a long way.
What Bunting would actually bring
He’s not a star. Nobody is confusing him with the top of the lineup. But Bunting plays a gritty, net-front style that fits what Edmonton needs in the bottom half of the forward group. He gets to dirty areas. He finishes around the crease. And even in an off year, he still found 14 goals.
The Oilers have enough firepower at the top. What they don’t have is reliable secondary scoring, especially after losing Roslovic and Adam Henrique. Bunting isn’t a one-for-one replacement for either guy, but he’s a proven NHL scorer who would cost nothing but cap space at this point in the summer.
If he comes in and gives Edmonton 15 to 20 goals, that’s a win. And the way this roster is built, a player like Bunting could be the difference between another early playoff exit and a real Cup run.
The market has quieted down, but that doesn’t mean Bowman is done. Bunting is still out there. And he might be the smartest move left on the board.
Leave a Comment