The Pittsburgh Penguins turned active on trade deadline day yesterday with the return of Nick Bonino and a trade for Dmitry Kulikov.
Bonino was a prolific role player with the Pens in the two most-recent Stanley Cup Championships. Bonino’s deal was a complicated multi-team deal, where the San Jose Sharks dealt him initially to Montreal in exchange for the rights to NFL unsigned prospect Arvid Henriksson and a 5th round selection in the 2024 draft. The Pens initially got the rights to defensive prospect Tony Sund for a conditional 2024 fifth round pick and a 2023 seventh round pick from the Ducks. The Pens were then able to acquire Bonino from the Habs in exchange for Sund’s rights. The Habs are also on the hook for half of Bonino’s $2.05 million salary cap hit.
Kulikov comes to the Pens from the Anaheim Ducks. He has played in 61 games this season and has three goals and 12 assists this season so far. He is in the final year of a two-year contract and carries a $2.25 million salary cap hit. The Ducks will retain 50% of that salary. The Ducks received in exchange forward Brock McGinn and a third round pick in the 2024 draft.
We may see Bonino and Kulikov in the lineup tonight as the Pens head to Sunrise, Florida to take on the Panthers. You can hear the game on U-92.5 FM starting at 5 with the pre-game show.
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