VOORHEES, NJ - SEPTEMBER 14: Connor Bunnaman of the Philadelphia Flyers poses for his official headshot for the 2017-2018 season on September 14, 2017 at the Virtua Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees, New Jersey. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images)
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Former fourth round pick Connor Bunnaman knows his role and has developed into a potential NHL 4th line center. In his rookie season in Lehigh Valley Bunnaman showed a scoring touch he showed in juniors. He tallied 19 goals with 13 apples for 32 points in the 18-19 season. So he showed he has some offensive buzz in his stick. Since then his offensive numbers have not been near that year, but that is because it seems Bunnaman, nicknamed Bunny, has settled into his role nicely.
Connor Bunnaman in 41 NHL games has one goal and two Apples for a total of three points. So it is safe to say he is not going to be an NHL offensive wizard. However, he is developing nicely into a potential future steady fourth line center in my opinion. Bunnaman does what the Flyers have lacked minus in Zack MacEwen. He uses his body well to box guys out as well as lay nice hits on opposing players. Plus Bunnaman fears no shots and is always willing to block shots for his club. That sounds like a nice fourth line center to me who reminds me of a fellow Flyer Nate Thompson. Thompson at one time could move better on his skates, win draws (which he still does), as well as consistently box players out and use his body well. Now of course Thompson is out for a while after having surgery earlier in the week.
Bunnaman, however, could be the perfect replacement for Thompson. Of course, it remains to be seen how the roster is adjusted if Hayes comes back for certain tonight and when Brassard comes back. I cannot envision Frost, as Jamey Baskow shared his opinions of that on Twitter, long-term playing a 4th line role and likely if that is the case will be back in Lehigh to get more minutes. So why not Bunnaman as the 4th line center for now at least and maybe in the future. He is just a nice potentially given more time steady eddy Nate Thompson in his prime level fourth liner. The main key for fourth line centers and Penalty Killing centers is their ability to win draws. Well, Bunnaman has won 13 of 20 (Faceoff Percentage of 65%) draws thus far in the faceoff circle for the Flyers, and has always been a solid draws player in the minors.
If Bunnaman keeps up his nice solid fourth line potential progression, whether he is sent back down once everyone is back or not it seems he could certainly be the fourth line center of the future, with Tanner Laczynski not being able to stay healthy. Imagine the size on a line if Bunnaman develops into that steady 4th line center and Issac Ratcliffe comes up and plays alongside him eventually. Just something to think about. All in al Bunnaman has had nice progression for a fourth round pick show signs of being a potential steady NHL fourth liner.
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