The Dallas Stars have shored up a key position in their forward corps with a trade for Nashville Predators left wing Michael Bunting. The transaction was confirmed in a March 5 release posted to the Stars website.
To acquire the 30-year-old veteran, GM Jim Nill traded a third-round 2026 draft pick originally acquired from the Seattle Kraken. The move allows the Stars organization to return forward Arttu Hyry to the Texas Stars.
Bunting scored 31 points in 61 regular-season games with Nashville in 2025-26, ranking third on the team in power-play goals (5), fourth in goals (13), and sixth in both assists (18) and points (31).
You can read the full release below and on the Dallas Stars website.
FRISCO, Texas – Dallas Stars General Manager Jim Nill announced today that the club has acquired forward Michael Bunting from the Nashville Predators in exchange for Seattle’s third round pick in 2026, which was previously acquired on June 19, 2025. In a corresponding move, the Stars have loaned forward Arttu Hyry to the Texas Stars, Dallas’ development affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL).
Bunting, 30, posted 31 points (13-18—31) in 61 regular-season games with Nashville during the 2025-26 campaign, ranking third on the team in power-play goals (5), fourth in goals (13) and sixth in both assists (18) and points (31).
“Michael is a tremendous addition to our roster,” Nill said. “His goal scoring ability mixed with physicality makes him extremely tough to play against. We are looking forward to seeing him on the ice in Dallas.”
Across seven NHL seasons, the native of Scarborough, Ontario has registered 250 points (108-142—250) in 405 regular-season contests with Arizona, Toronto, Carolina, Pittsburgh and Nashville. He has appeared twice in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, both times with Toronto, posting five points (2-3—5) in 13 postseason contests.
The 6-foot, 186-pound forward was originally selected by Arizona in the fourth round (117th overall) of the 2014 NHL Draft.