Michael Bunting undergoes emergency surgery

This just in, Pittsburgh Penguins forward Michael Bunting has undergone emergency to remove his appendix and will be out of the team's lineup indefinitely.

The 29 year old forward has 14 goals and 29 points in 58 games with the struggling Penguins this season.

He's in the 2nd year of a 3 year deal that pays him $4.5 million annually per season and is one of a handful of Penguins players who have factored into trade rumors given the team's position in the standings.

It's becoming increasingly clear that the Penguins will fail to make the post-season again this year and veteran players like Bunting, Erik Karlsson, Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell and Matt Grzelcyk are all making rounds on the rumor mill. With Bunting's recovery for surgery expected to take him beyond the NHL's March 8th trade deadline though, it would be a shocked if he were moved via trade.