Penguins Sidebar: Bunting Agitates, Joseph Beams After Well-Timed Trade

The Pittsburgh Penguins have a pot stir.

General manager Kyle Dubas chose to trade winger Jake Guentzel to the Carolina Hurricanes at the 2024 NHL trade deadline in large part because Carolina also included an NHL player with the haul of prospects. That player was Michael Bunting, and he’s been agitating opponents and filling the net pretty consistently since his arrival.

Well, he didn’t exactly set hearts afire in his first 12 games this season, when he had only one assist, no goals, and became a healthy scratch.

“I don’t want to–I don’t even want to look at that start of the season anymore. I want to keep building off of what I’ve been doing and what I’ve done in this league in the past,” Bunting told PHN. “I’ve been able to produce every single year, and that’s what I want to continue to do. Those first 18 games–I don’t want to ever look at them again.”

Bunting has found his game with aplomb. He scored another goal Saturday against the New York Islanders, which tied the game 1-1 in the first period (The Penguins eventually lost 6-3). The marker gave Bunting 12 points (6-6-12) in his last 12 games.

And there was the matter of the game just before the NHL holiday break in New Jersey. It seemed Bunting had half of the Devils locker room itching for a fight.

“I don’t think there was a point in the game (that I knew I was under their skin). I was just kind of playing my style of game, kind of getting in their face, you know, disrupting anything I could,” said Bunting. “Obviously, there were some emotions that showed at the end of the game (Bunting was tackled at the final horn). You know, that’s hockey, and that’s what makes it fun. I think that’s a fun part of the game is playing on the ice like that.”

Indeed.

New Jersey defenseman Brenden Dillon very much wanted a scrap with Bunting. Stefan Noesen was next in line.

“I don’t change my game. I play (it) no matter what,” said Bunting in our chat. “And even if there is a big fighter on (the other) team, usually, they try to come at me. But I mean, that’s my game. That’s how I’ve played forever–just kind of on that edge. And I’ve got to know when to toe that line and not go too far.”

Bunting should be careful. The Penguins’ big enforcer–Marcus Pettersson–is out with an injury. You may note the sarcasm, but Pettersson has been the player to answer the bell against the NHL heavyweights in the last couple of seasons.

Bunting is part of the Penguins power play resurgence. His goal from the low slot on Saturday kept the Penguins’ season power play conversion rate at 24.5%, which is eighth best in the league and a far cry from the 15% conversion last season.

He’s also chipping in offense at 5v5 and converting some of the chances created by center Evgeni Malkin, who also has five points (1-4-5) in his last five games.

We should note that Bunting wrapped our one-on-one conversation about New Jersey’s focused rage with a hearty laugh.

P.O Joseph

When is it a good thing to get sent home and perhaps owe your former landlord some back rent?

Newly re-acquired Penguins defenseman P.O Joseph was all smiles before the holiday break as he and Kris Letang–with whom Joseph lived last season–traded locker room good-natured barbs through the assembled reporters in the New Jersey locker room.

Letang blurted out–“He owes me back rent!”

Joseph laughed and agreed.

“I can definitely say that (I owe him some rent or food). I mean, I was thinking about buying him a gift, but after hearing what he’s saying, I don’t think I’m going to do it now,” said Joseph with his characteristic big smile. “But, you know, it’s just fun to see him back. He’s been a big part of who I am for the last couple of years. And he made me grow as a player and as a person. And I’m very grateful that I have the chance to be with him and to see him (again) now. It’s fun.”

Joseph had reasons to beam last week after the Penguins acquired him for future considerations from the St. Louis Blues. He played a pair of great games for the Penguins, first against New Jersey, then against Philadelphia before the break. He was pretty good Saturday against the Islanders, too.

Read More: Dubas Explains Penguins’ Joseph Trade; Full Analysis

“(When I first heard about the trade), I thought it was a little bit of a prank, but here I am back again and having fun,” Joseph said last Saturday in New Jersey.

For Joseph, it was nice to come back home, but even nicer to get back into an NHL lineup. He was admittedly struggling and not performing well in St. Louis, where coaches relegated him to the press box.

“I think, personally, it takes a little bit for me to adjust to the new place,” said Joseph. “It’s just a different system, different organization and stuff. But I know–I just kind of look at myself in the mirror and just be like, ‘I didn’t play the way I wanted to play.’ And maybe it’s it’s the reason why I’m back here.”

Joseph hadn’t played more than 12 minutes in any of his last six games in St. Louis and had just assists in 23 games. Dubas’s trade was perfectly timed, as well. Left-side defencemen Marcus Pettersson (lower body) and Owen Pickering (concussion) both suffered injuries, which would have left the Penguins very shorthanded if not for the trade.

Joseph almost immediately assumed his role from late last season beside Letang on the Penguins top pair and ironically, he has played 58:58 over three games. He’s defending well, skating, and looking like a player who is getting a second chance, which he is.