[Kloke] Sheldon Keefe on Michael Bunting not getting in for Game 5: “We’re comfortable with the group that’s won three games in a row.” “It’s not an easy decision,” Keefe adds. “The message was he’ll get back in, just not tomorrow.”
Sheldon Keefe on Michael Bunting not getting in for Game 5: “We’re comfortable with the group that’s won three games in a row.”
“It’s not an easy decision,” Keefe adds. “The message was he’ll get back in, just not tomorrow.”
— Joshua Kloke (@joshuakloke) April 26, 2023
by Evening_Calm
23 Comments
This is the way. If we win tomorrow he can come back next series and if we lose he can come back game 6
Well, that’s an open and shut case. I think Keefe is gun shy from previous lineup replacements in the later games in the series.
Right call. I’ve said it before … I don’t want the Leafs to play Bunting’s game against tb. Save him for Boston.
>Michael Bunting on the explanation for not getting into Game 5: it’s a conversation between Keefer and I. I want to play. I want to be in the lineup. That’s what I intend on doing in the future here; There is a little adversity here. But I’ve been dealing with adversity my whole life and I made it here. It’s just another day for me.
https://twitter.com/dalter/status/1651274251058528267?t=ENucwR6xoG-t74nxrFTr1w&s=19
This has been my preference all along but I’m still surprised they’re actually doing it. I hope Bunting takes it well and is content to sit as long as the team keeps winning, knowing that he’s going to play again whether it’s in this series or (hopefully) the next.
Colour me shocked. I do like the confidence Keefe is showing in the current group.
He knows they can do it. They know they can do it. Now go fucking do it.
I’m fine with keeping bunting out, but the last 2 wins shouldn’t factor into it much because we probably shouldn’t have won either.
We’ll see what happens. People will 100% point to this if things go south though and it will be difficult to defend.
It’s maybe mildly surprising he didn’t draw in on the 4th line, but when you haven’t won a playoff series since 2004 you probably shouldn’t tinker with a lineup that’s won three straight.
Extremely stupid decision
Smart choice …. We close out tomorrow night and he starts the next series or we see him in game 6.
Either way playing him tomorrow night just isn’t necessary. It’s just the circumstances right know, if the series was tied I’d bet he’d be suiting up.
Edit; the circumstances also include the bias the refs have towards Bunting, which is unfortunate.
I would have liked to see him over Laff if it was possible to do the lines that way, but I can understand not wanting to mess with a winning formula. Even when Bunting is back, Keefe has to be quick to bench him if he starts getting undisciplined
I’m relieved honestly, at least for now. We’ve been winning tough games, we can try to do just that again with this cushion.
He brings a good physical pest-style game, I imagine it’ll be useful against Boston if we do pull out a win in this series
Some people saying we need Bunting for his scoring like we aren’t averaging 5 goals a game.
That’s the right call. Superstition is a weird thing for athletes
So either he makes his return Game 1 in Round 2 (ideal), or in Game 6, IN Tampa, after a loss in game 5, where Keefe can’t control the match-ups?
I believe it’s a mistake not putting him in Game 5, but I think it’d be a bigger mistake putting him in Game 6. My guess is he’ll be thrown into Game 7 God forbid it gets there.
Well at least we know what the story will be if the Leafs lose game 5.
bunting did something dumb and the leafs managed to pull 3 straight wins. you can’t justify pulling anyone out for him.
Torn on this.
One hand: Leafs have won three in a row. Don’t mess with what is working. This should not be seen as a punishment to Bunting — it’s just a high stakes Game 5 and it’s very defensible to not shake things up at this point.
Other hand: The Leafs did not have amazing Games 2 and 3, outside of a heroic comeback. They aren’t infallible as currently constructed, at all. And Bunting is actually a better forward than some of the other options on the roster. Reasonable to suggest the Leafs are a stronger squad with him than without him.
Anyway. Not sure where I land on this one but I definitely don’t envy Keefe having to make the choice.
He’s 27 with only 2 seasons played in the NHL. 27. There is a reason he sat in Arizona’s minor league system for so long. It should be obvious but here we are. He got a break from Dubas being from the Soo.
People are talking about him like he’s special and has real impact value. Seriously? On a 4th line? Not a chance.
Management made the right choice to keep him out for now.
They’re protecting his health by not sending him out. Pretty sure the refs will look the other way while he gets pulled apart.
This is 100% the best thing to Do. Great decision we don’t Need to be killing off a five minute major next game. They will target him.
Tried to post the actual story a few hours ago which is why you can’t post that link but mods aren’t approving the post for some reason.
If Keefe changes this lineup before they get blown out he better brace for riots