PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – He was a part of a third line that helped the Pens win the Stanley Cup and multiple reports (first by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, confirmed by Pittsburgh Hockey Now) Nick Bonino is back with Pittsburgh.
The center is now 34-years-old and has 10 goals and nine assists this season, but will help boost a bottom six that has been inconsistent at best this year. He will also likely be a key figure on the team’s penalty kill and has a little more size at 6’1”, 200 pounds.
Bonino was once again a big shot blocker, 74 this season with the Sharks after a career-high 102 last season. He is on an expiring contract worth just over two million dollars and the compensation back to San Jose has yet to be announced.
The Hartford native played two seasons with the Pens-143 games, 27 goals and 39 assists and won two Stanley Cups. He centered the HBK like with Carl Hagelin and Phil Kessel and the Punjabi call of his goals was a must-listen during his seasons in Pittsburgh. He likely will start on a line with Drew O’Connor and Josh Archibald.
Bonino began his career with Anaheim, Bonino has also played for Vancouver, Nashville, Minnesota and the Sharks. Pens play at Florida Saturday at 6p.