It’s Official: Penguins Bringing Back Nick Bonino
The Pittsburgh Penguins have acquired the bottom-six center they’ve been seeking.
And he’s not a stranger.
They are bringing back Nick Bonino, a member of their Stanley Cup-winning teams in 2016 and 2017.
Word of a deal began to circulate Friday morning, but an individual with knowledge of the negotiations said it was “not done,” and there was no announcement from any of the parties until shortly before 2 p.m.
The Penguins gave up a conditional fifth-round draft choice in 2024 and a 2023 seventh-rounder to San Jose in the exchange. Montreal, which actually got Bonino from the Sharks before passing him along to the Penguins, received San Jose’s fifth-rounder in 2024 and defenseman Tony Sund for taking on 50 percent of Bonino’s $2.05 million salary-cap hit.
The Sharks also received the rights to Montreal defense prospect Arvid Henrikson.
The condition attached to the 2024 choice the Penguins relinquished is that it becomes a fourth-rounder if the Penguins reach the Eastern Conference final this spring.
Taking on Bonino’s contract would have put the Penguins over the NHL cap ceiling of $82.5 million, which could be part of the reason they sent forwards Drew O’Connor and Drake Caggiula to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in late morning.
Also, because those two were assigned to the American Hockey League before the trade deadline arrived, they will be eligible to participate in the Calder Cup playoffs.
Bonino has 10 goals and nine assists in 59 games this season.
He presumably will play in the middle of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ third or fourth line (probably the latter) and join the penalty-killing unit.
During his first stint with the Penguins, Bonino was best-known for centering what came to be known as the “HBK Line,” with Carl Hagelin and Phil Kessel on the wings.
Bonino is nearing the end of a two-year contract he signed with the Sharks as a free agent.
It was not immediately known whether Bonino will join the team in time to dress for the Penguins’ game against Florida Saturday at 6:08 p.m., assuming Mike Sullivan would be inclined to use him then.
The acquisition of Bonino comes in the wake of trades that sent Teddy Blueger to Vegas and brought in Mikael Granlund from Nashville.
Categorized:Penguins
😳
Woohoo! Seriously he was good here.
Thank God a mature 34 NHL player. Hopefully resigned for couple years. These younger, bigger, stronger players are not helpful for playoff series! This trade shows Rangers (Kane) we can match them.
He’s a UFA this summer, I’m fine with this move.
Bonino Bonino Bonino!!!
Nothing wrong with this move. If it stops Carter from being on the ice with the game on the line, I don’t care.
He’s a UFA, so he’s probably gone in the summer. Totally fine
Well, someone must take something from us for this to work. We’re in a cap jam again.
Caggiula back to WBS? Is that enough cap clearance when added to the $1.125 or whatever they had?
And maybe McGinn goes which clears another 1.1M?
I think you’re correct. McGinn would have only had us about 10k over the cap and Bonino makes less. So, I believe it works.
Plus Payday on IR? Perhaps some salary is being withheld?
After seeing what all the “elite” teams in the east have done, how does it make sense to bring in another +30 year old player? We should be retooling this roster for the future, not compounding some misguided notion that we can make a cup run. Getting Bonino doesn’t make them better, just older
Kane is 34. Tarasenko is 31. Orlov is 31. Hell Hathaway is 31. These are the “elite” teams you mention. They brought in 30+ players also
Ryan O’Reilly is 32 also.
Kris, That comparison is not fair! Fans know Kane, Tarasenko, O’Reilly are not in Bonino and Granlund’s league.
What does that have to do with anything??? People dont pay attention. I am not saying we found the missing pieces and are going to win the cup now. Probably still wont get out of the first round. But the years we won werent the Hossa trade or the Iginla trade years. It was when we got Kunitz and Dupuis remained as a leftover piece. It was when we got Hagelin from Anaheim, who was languishing out there, and Daly from Chicago who Quenneville literally wouldnt even put on the ice was living in the press box. O’Reilly is over… Read more »
First, you’re underrating Granlund a TON! Outside of Domi he’s one of the playmakers that we’re available. He’s average on D, and he doesn’t shoot a lot, but just one game in and it showed how his hands and mind raised his teammate’s play. Also, Bonino is a quality center. He’s solid defensively and on the PK, plus adds offense to a 4th line. He was never fast foot speed wise, but fits the system because he plays fast with the puck. These moves together do impact our bottom 6 scoring in a good way. And, Bonino can easily fill… Read more »
Very, very, very good point. Thank you.
Has to be Heinen and retention no? How else you fitting in another $2million?
The penguins are trying to retool their bottom 6. They are doing that. People that expected chycrun or miller are delusional. Teams that have younger, bigger,and faster players aren’t trading those players. Why would they? This is the position the penguins are in, people should accept that. 4 wins in a row can’t even please some people 🤷♂️ Bonino is at least better than Blueger was this season
Speaking of JT Miller, Darren Dreger reported this morning The Penguins made a hard run at Miller and made Vancouver an offer that included multiple picks, high draft picks. They turned it down.
I don’t get the obsession over Miller. I was on board with the possibility if they hadn’t resigned Malkin. I just don’t see where he or his $8mil per season contract would have fit. He isn’t a 3rd liner. Not big. Not young. Not gritty. None of the things people are clamoring for. Very good player, but he will never come here. Same with Gibson.
Actually he is pretty gritty and he could hit. He would push Zucker down to the 3rd line and allow him and Granlund to maybe catch some magic in a bottle again.
Bonino is a no risk acquisition. He is free agent after season he is good shutdown center. He gets the odd goal. And he knows our system so there won’t be a big transition.
Actually like this pickup. Bonino is an immediate upgrade to what we had at either 3D or 4C. He is Steady Eddie.
But make no mistake, the moves being made are to make the playoffs and take a run at the Cup. They are not being made to win the Cup. Keep the streak alive! Make FSG happy (and in the dark)!
Actually as trade deadlines go the addition of Bonino is OK with me . .. assuming Hextall has made another moronic decision as to the return. Bonino is going to be here through the rest of the season and however long/or not they last in the post season. After that he moves on. As respects his age . . . well . .. there is no value to complaining about the age of the team. That ship left the dock long long ago. But have to give Hextall credit of taking essentially the oldest roster in hockey and making it… Read more »
Get the band (mostly) back together. Go get Phil!
Those of you who don’t know a 7th rd pick going to San Jose and a 5th to a third team (unknown) to retain 25% of Bonino’s salary, while San Jose retains 50%.
So The Penguins are getting Bonino for two late picks and barely having to pay him.
Now bring back Hagelin and Kessel, and Hexie’s got his third line! HBK 2.0, baby! #Genius
Best part about this deal is that if the Penguins win the Stanley Cup, I’ll get to see it in CT again! 🙂 Welcome back Bones!
So, looking at these moves as a whole…I like them. Depending on what we sent the other way I guess. Basically at this point we traded Blueger, a 2nd, and most likely another small piece, to get Granlund, Bonino, and a third. We do have to bury McGinn for now, but most likely called up in the playoffs and will be on the roster next year unless traded in the off season. Bonino is slower than Blueger, but plays this system well because he plays a fast game with the puck. He has more offensive upside than Blueger too. Granlund… Read more »
bonino has always been a player wh competes because of hi intelligents…..he ill fit in well
Love what the Senators have done this season. Chabot, Sanderson and Chychrun give them the best young D corps in the conference. The back line is what fuels offenses these days, and their front office gets it, obviously. They’ll be the next team to move past the Penguins a year from now.
The over over the hill gang
Would it not be the most typical thing for this season if this deal gets announced all over the internet and then it falls through? Not knocking the reports. Just saying that would feel like the most Penguin thing to have happen this season.
I’m so confused right now.