Flyers Land Michael Bunting in Bid to Stop Early Season Skid

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — In an effort to jolt a team that has stumbled out of the gate, the Philadelphia Flyers have inked winger Michael Bunting to a contract for the rest of the season. The deal carries a prorated value of $1.2 million, according to general manager Daniel Briere, who revealed the signing on Tuesday.

The move comes on the heels of a 4-1 defeat in Tampa Bay on Monday night, a result that left the Flyers still searching for their first victory. Bunting, 31, had remained unsigned throughout the summer as an unrestricted free agent before Philadelphia came calling.

It remains uncertain when Bunting will be able to suit up for his new club. The Flyers are scheduled to return to action Thursday night in Ottawa.

Philadelphia's early-season woes have been stark. Through four games, the team has been outscored 17-5. Opponents have launched 246 shots against them while the Flyers have managed just 122, a shot differential of minus-124 that ranks as the worst in the NHL. The next-closest team, San Jose, sits at minus-53.

Bunting brings an aggressive, energetic style and a career-long knack for finding the back of the net, along with a level of toughness that the Flyers currently lack. Since breaking into the league in 2018, he has appeared in 432 games including the playoffs, and last season he split time between Nashville and Dallas.

Philadelphia marks the seventh NHL organization for Bunting, who has also spent time with Arizona, Toronto, Carolina, and Pittsburgh.

Originally reported by yourvalley_net.