Following an evening of jostling between two of the game's preeminent pests, Edmonton Oilers power forward Evander Kane had some sharp words for fellow nuisance Michael Bunting.
“He likes to dive and embellish,” Kane told reporters on Saturday night
The next morning, at the conclusion of Toronto Maple Leafs practice, Michael Bunting shared his own blunt thoughts on Kane’s assessment of his play.
“I don’t really care to be honest,” Bunting said on Sunday, chuckling. “I’m not going to lose sleep over it. I’m not really the type to bring it to the media so I’m just going to leave it at that.”
Toronto’s shift-disturbing sophomore outlined that, in his eyes, he was just trying to get to his spot in the offensive zone amidst a Maple Leafs power play, before Kane got in his way and held him down.
As for the corresponding embellishment call, Bunting kept mum on the matter as well, perhaps looking out for the best interests of his pocketbook after head coach Sheldon Keefe faced a fine related to officiating earlier this season.
“I just went to forecheck and [Kane] got in my way and hit me, but that’s the refs' call and you’ve just gotta keep playing.”
“It is what it is,” Bunting added. “I just stick to my game, I play every shift hard, and I try to compete out there.”
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