Nick Bonino

Bonino began his high school career at Farmington High School in Connecticut, where he amassed 91 points in 24 games as a junior and led the school to its first state championship under coach Mike Barone.[1] He then transferred to Avon Old Farms, playing for legendary coach John Gardner.[2] While at Avon Old Farms, Bonino captained a New England Championship hockey team in 2007.[3]

Bonino during his tenure with the Canucks in February 2015.

Bonino played his collegiate career at Boston University.[4] While a sophomore at the university, Bonino led the Boston Terriers to an NCAA National Championship over Miami University by first providing an assist to Zach Cohen to bring the Terriers within one goal, and then by scoring the game-tying goal with 17.4 seconds left in the third period to force overtime.[5]

Bonino was drafted by the San Jose Sharks in the sixth round, 173rd overall, in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. His rights were later traded to the Anaheim Ducks with goaltender Timo Pielmeier in exchange for Travis Moen and Kent Huskins on March 4, 2009. On March 21, 2010, Bonino signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Ducks.[6] After signing with Anaheim, he immediately joined the team, making his NHL debut on March 26, 2010, in a game against the Edmonton Oilers. He scored his first NHL goal in Anaheim's next game, three nights later, against the Dallas Stars; the goal was assisted by Teemu Selänne.[7] He finished the year playing in nine games and registering one goal and one assist with six penalties in minutes.[8]

In 2012–13, Bonino scored a hat-trick in his team's 7–4 win over the Los Angeles Kings on February 2, 2013.[9]

On June 27, 2014, after a breakout season in 2013–14 in which he scored 22 goals and 27 assists (49 points), Bonino was traded to the Vancouver Canucks with defenseman Luca Sbisa and a first- and third-round pick in 2014 in exchange for Ryan Kesler and a third-round pick in 2015.[10] In his first season with the Canucks, Bonino appeared in 75 games, scoring 15 goals along with 24 assists. He scored a goal and had two assists during Vancouver's first round loss to the Calgary Flames in the 2015 Stanley Cup playoffs.

On July 28, 2015, for the second time in as many years, Bonino was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins along with Adam Clendening and a 2nd round pick in 2016 for Brandon Sutter and a 3rd round pick.[11] Bonino's play in the 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs was a significant factor in the Pittsburgh Penguins winning the Stanley Cup as he led the team in assists. Along with his line mates, Phil Kessel and Carl Hagelin, the trio was nicknamed the HBK line and noted for their strong play during the playoffs. He was a huge factor in the Pittsburgh Penguins becoming the first back to back Stanley Cup champions of the salary cap era. [12]

After winning the Stanley Cup in each of his two seasons in Pittsburgh, Bonino left as a free agent to sign a four-year $16.4 million contract with the Nashville Predators on July 1, 2017.[13]

Approaching his final season under contract, on October 7, 2020, Bonino was traded by the Predators to division rival the Minnesota Wild, along with second- and third-round picks in 2020, in exchange for Luke Kunin and a fourth-round pick in 2020.[14]