Michael Bunting

The Dallas Stars dip into the AHL for their top scorer right as Michael Bunting's lower-body tweak looks more serious than a nagging ache, forcing GM Jim Nill to shuffle the deck again. Bunting, fresh off that Predators trade and still shaking off a goal drought, hobbled out early Sunday against Philly, leaving the depth chart thinner with Hintz and others still sidelined.

Michael Bunting hits the ice for his first practice with the Dallas Stars after that quick trade from Nashville, looking every bit the two-way forward GM Jim Nill targeted to bolster the top-nine amid injuries to Radek Faksa, Roope Hintz and Mikko Rantanen. The 30-year-old, fresh off 13 goals and 31 points in 61 games, chats post-skate about adjusting to Dallas' offensive style and the locker room confidence that fuels their 10-game win streak.

The Avalanche and Stars load up their arsenals ahead of the deadline, turning the Central Division into a brutal heavyweight bout that defines the NHL's best competition. Colorado bolsters its center ice with Kadri and Roy rejoining MacKinnon and Nelson, while Dallas counters with Bunting and Myers to chase the leaders. Minnesota joins the fray adding Brink, Foligno and Petry, setting up a first-round showdown with stakes that could crown the West's king.

Michael Bunting finds the back of the net with a power-play tally against John Gibson in the thick of DET@DAL action. Sources whisper this moment carries extra weight as Gibson battles through a demanding stretch for the Red Wings. Front offices keep a close eye whenever a gritty forward like Bunting exploits a crease this way, especially with Detroit pushing for positioning.

Nashville's Barry Trotz stares down a playoff push that's hanging by a thread, but he pulls back from the full teardown everyone whispered about in the front offices. Rumors swirled around Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Ryan O'Reilly for weeks, yet Trotz ships out depth guys like Michael Bunting and Nick Blankenburg for modest picks instead of cashing in the big names.

Michael Bunting steps up big in his first taste of Dallas action, assisting on key goals as the Stars grind out a tight victory against the Blackhawks. Fresh off that trade from Nashville for a third-rounder, he's already meshing