NHL Rumors: Nick Bonino signs with Nashville Predators

Nick Bonino is leaving the Stanley Cup champion Penguins for the Stanley Cup runners up, the Nashville Predators

Not only has NBA Free Agency began, but NHL Free Agency is beginning today as well. The two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins are set to take some hits to their depth, including losing a player that is going to go to the team they beat in the Stanley Cup Final, the Nashville Predators.

The 29-year-old had 37 points in 80 games for the Penguins this past season. In the playoffs, he added four goals and seven points in 21 games during the Penguins run to the Stanley Cup.

The Predators already lost James Neal this off-season to the Vegas Golden Knights in the expansion draft. Mike Fisher and Mike Ribiero are set to be unrestricted free agents.

Bonino should fit in nicely in Nashville playing behind Filip Forsberg and Craig Smith in Nashville. He’s a player who can play the penalty kill and on the power play for the club and be productive at both sides of the ice.

He’s recovering from a broken leg that he suffered during the Stanley Cup Final, but that didn’t deter Nashville from giving him the four year contract.

Bonino isn’t the only player leaving the Penguins. Trevor Daley and Ron Haisey are both leaving the Penguins.

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For the Nashville Predators, I think the Bonino signing means they are saying goodbye to Fisher (sorry Carrie Underwood) and Ribiero. Bonino is able to cash in on what was a weak free agent forward class, but he’ll bring experience and grit to a team that has hopes of getting back to the Stanley Cup Final next year and hopefully winning it this time.

Nashville won’t be done tweaking their team. It’s only day of free agency. Strap in.