Michael Bunting might be the playoff performer the Leafs have been missing

Off the back of Michael Bunting's hat trick and all-round performance against the Red Wings, Omar salutes his Scaborough boy, and wonders if Bunting might be the clutch depth playoff performer the Leafs have been missing in recent seasons.

Video Transcript

- Let's have a conversation because you know how every year in the playoffs there's always a team that struggle sometimes, but then they always have, you know, that depth forward that kind of comes out and just has these miraculous performances.

It's interesting how that's never happened to the Leafs, and it seems like every year the Leafs try to find that person, try to find that player. Well, let me tell you something. The Leafs have that player, and his name is Michael Jay Bunting. I don't know if Jay's his middle name. I'm saying it's-- I'm saying that Jay is his middle name because, like, did you not see that performance and just think, hey, that would be really cool to see in the playoffs?

Because it's not only the hat trick, the hat trick that was incredible. It was also the fact that Bunting literally caused and triggered the comeback. There was the first goal. There was the little scuffle he had with Larkin, then the second goal, and the hat-trick goal. And literally it's like he put his hands up and said, Leafs nation, give me your energy. And we all said, yes, Bunting, take our energy. Like, God, that was just such a great game.

But honestly, like, think about it. Like, does Michael Bunting not seem like that player that, when the Leafs are in a situation where they need something, they need a push, they need a spark, that he can be that person? Does it not-- can you just see it now where the Leafs are in a heavy situation, playoff game, overtime maybe. and then all they need is one goal? I can see it. I can see it being Michael Bunting.

And the fact that everyone is slowly starting to jump on the Michael Bunting train, one, is awesome because, yes, join me. Join me on the Michael Bunting, you know, hype train. But also it just speaks to how much he's grown on us as fans, not only the fact that, you know, the way he plays. He's even climbing up the ranks of the rookie scoring race.

Yes, Michael Bunting is a rookie. I know some people are saying, hey, Michael Bunting shouldn't be a rookie. He's 26 years old. Well, you know what? Panarin was 24, and Kaprizov was 24 as well. You know it doesn't matter. Give Michael Bunting the Calder if he deserves it. And hey, once the playoffs-- once the playoffs start, I guarantee Michael Bunting will be the one who scores that miraculous goal.