Leafs forward Kurtis Gabriel touches on why he videobombed Bunting, calling him a ''greasy rat''
A funny scene occurred during an intermission from the Leafs 4-0 win over the Ottawa Senators in preseason action on Wednesday involving a couple of Leafs newcomers.
During a live interview with TSN's Gord Miller on Wednesday, Michael Bunting was interrupted by fellow Leafs newbie Kurtis Gabriel - who leaned in to the mic to ensure that the whole nation heard him call Bunting a "greasy rat" (in good fun, of course).
On Thursday, from the Ford Performance Centre, Gabriel was asked by a media member who was present if there was a backstory for why the event occurred.
Gabriel was very candid in his response, offering up that the two newcomers got into it early on while training together, after Gabriel delivered a hit to Bunting that he took exception to. Bunting, in turn, gave Gabriel a few whacks and nailed him with a reverse-hit of his own. The issue was, of course, resolved on the spot with a couple of shin taps and the two remain close.
As to why the term "greasy rat" was used, it's related to the reputation Bunting has, much like Brendan Gallagher and Brad Marchand, to just get under the skin of whoever he is playing against and to just be that pest that you just can't seem to get rid of.
"You saw him last night, getting in everybody's grill, pissing people off - that's what we need on this team I think," said Gabriel.
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YESTERDAY
APRIL 23, 2026
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| G | A | PTS | ||
| Bowen Byram | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Artturi Lehkonen | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Noah Ostlund | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Taylor Hall | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Alex Laferriere | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Drake Batherson | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Jackson Blake | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Tanner Jeannot | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Adrian Kempe | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Gabriel Landeskog | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Cale Makar | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Trevor Moore | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Brock Nelson | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Logan Stankoven | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Alex Tuch | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Quinton Byfield | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Nick Cousins | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Peyton Krebs | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Josh Manson | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Charlie McAvoy | - | 1 | 1 | |
| COMPLETE STATS | ||||
| 2025-2026 NHL STANDINGS | ||||||
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Sabres | 82 | 50 | 23 | 9 | 109 | |
| Lightning | 82 | 50 | 26 | 6 | 106 | |
| Canadiens | 82 | 48 | 24 | 10 | 106 | |
| Bruins | 82 | 45 | 27 | 10 | 100 | |
| Senators | 82 | 44 | 27 | 11 | 99 | |
| Red Wings | 82 | 41 | 31 | 10 | 92 | |
| Panthers | 82 | 40 | 38 | 4 | 84 | |
| Maple Leafs | 82 | 32 | 36 | 14 | 78 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Hurricanes | 82 | 53 | 22 | 7 | 113 | |
| Penguins | 82 | 41 | 25 | 16 | 98 | |
| Flyers | 82 | 43 | 27 | 12 | 98 | |
| Capitals | 82 | 43 | 30 | 9 | 95 | |
| Blue Jackets | 82 | 40 | 30 | 12 | 92 | |
| Islanders | 82 | 43 | 34 | 5 | 91 | |
| Devils | 82 | 42 | 37 | 3 | 87 | |
| Rangers | 82 | 34 | 39 | 9 | 77 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Avalanche | 82 | 55 | 16 | 11 | 121 | |
| Stars | 82 | 50 | 20 | 12 | 112 | |
| Wild | 82 | 46 | 24 | 12 | 104 | |
| Mammoth | 82 | 43 | 33 | 6 | 92 | |
| Blues | 82 | 37 | 33 | 12 | 86 | |
| Predators | 82 | 38 | 34 | 10 | 86 | |
| Jets | 82 | 35 | 35 | 12 | 82 | |
| Blackhawks | 82 | 29 | 39 | 14 | 72 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Golden Knights | 82 | 39 | 26 | 17 | 95 | |
| Oilers | 82 | 41 | 30 | 11 | 93 | |
| Ducks | 82 | 43 | 33 | 6 | 92 | |
| Kings | 82 | 35 | 27 | 20 | 90 | |
| Sharks | 82 | 39 | 35 | 8 | 86 | |
| Kraken | 82 | 34 | 37 | 11 | 79 | |
| Flames | 82 | 34 | 39 | 9 | 77 | |
| Canucks | 82 | 25 | 49 | 8 | 58 | |
COMPLETE STANDINGS | ||||||