Philadelphia Flyers Have Signed Michael Bunting

The Flyers added veteran forward Michael Bunting following the team's winless start to the 2025-26 season.

Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Hockey

Expressive editorial sports illustration of a hockey player in orange and black motion, representing the Philadelphia Flyers' latest roster addition.
The Philadelphia Flyers signed veteran forward Michael Bunting on Tuesday following the team’s winless 0-2-2 start to the 2025-26 NHL season. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you support your local team signing veteran free agents to improve early season performance?

The Philadelphia Flyers have signed 31-year-old forward Michael Bunting as an unrestricted free agent. The team moved to add the veteran after opening the season with an 0-2-2 record.

Why it matters

The Flyers are seeking an immediate offensive spark after struggling to secure a victory in their first four games of the 2025-26 season. Bunting joins the roster as a veteran presence to help bolster the team's scoring production.

Bunting brings 109 goals and 252 points across 418 career games, including 14 goals and 33 points recorded in 74 appearances last season. The new contract carries a $1.2 million cap hit.

The players

Michael Bunting

A 31-year-old veteran forward from Scarborough, Ontario, who has played for multiple NHL franchises.

Philadelphia Flyers

A professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia that competes in the National Hockey League.

The details

The Philadelphia Flyers finalized the deal with Bunting as they look to turn around their season trajectory. The 31-year-old forward has previously played for the Arizona Coyotes, Toronto Maple Leafs, Carolina Hurricanes, Pittsburgh Penguins, Nashville Predators, and Dallas Stars.

Timeline

  1. Michael Bunting was drafted 117th overall in 2014.

  2. Bunting won a gold medal at the World Hockey Championship in 2021.

  3. The Flyers began the 2025-26 season with an 0-2-2 record.

  4. The Flyers signed Michael Bunting on October 6, 2026.

The Big Picture

This achievement highlights the high-level international experience Bunting brings to the Philadelphia roster. The signing follows the career trajectory established by Bunting's international success during his 2021 gold medal win.

Bunting arrives with a proven track record of 252 career points to help fix the team's early-season offensive slump. Fans can expect him to immediately compete for ice time to improve the team's struggling 0-2-2 record.

The takeaway

The addition of Bunting provides the Flyers with an experienced depth scorer at a modest $1.2 million cap hit. The move serves as a proactive strategy to stabilize the roster while the team continues to search for its first win of the season.

Further reading

For more updates on the team, visit the Hockey section.

Live Poll

Do you support your local team signing veteran free agents to improve early season performance?