If Nick Bonino's time with the Penguins has come to an end it can only be looked upon fondly. After all the Penguins have won a Stanley Cup every time he's been on the roster. His trade from Vancouver saved Pittsburgh from deploying Brandon Sutter for a fourth consecutive unsuccessful year as the team's third line center. The team got a better player and used the second round pick on goaltender prospect Filip Gustavsson. A complete win for Jim Rutherford.
Year one in Pittsburgh was amazing for Bonino once Mike Johnston was fired. Early on Johnston suffocated the life out of mostly every Pittsburgh forward offensively, including Sidney Crosby. Once everybody was allowed to breath it provided opportunity for a player like Bonino to play to his strengths which are mostly offensive. Bonino joined up with Phil Kessel and Carl Hagelin to create the HBK line and Bonino's 2.04 points per 60 were third best on the team. Pittsburgh was a runaway train in the playoffs because nobody could match up with Pittsburgh's three excellent scoring lines. When Sid and Geno had mini-slumps it was HBK who picked up the slack. It was a beautiful thing to watch. However, it was short lived.
The 2016-17 season saw a significant drop in Bonino's quality of play. His offense dried up and he was a drag on possession. He did not have a good year. HBK was not a functional line and was rarely used. Here are some quick comparisons
The team results were the same, a championship, but Bonino's contributing role in 2016-17 was very much reduced. The conundrum with Nick Bonino is that even though his 2016-17 productions should be replaceable, the options for third line center are very limited this year in unrestricted free agency class. Bonino is actually one of the better players on the market who fits this role along with Martin Hanzal. That doesn't mean the team that signs him to his next contract is going to get good value. He is going to have plenty of suitors who want a two-time Stanley Cup Champion that has shown ability to generate offense and also kills penalties. The Stanley Cup tax is real, just ask the Chicago Blackhawks. Prices after winning get elevated. Teams will be seeking out Bonino's services and are willing to pay even if they won't be getting value on the dollar.
Figuring out who is going to play third line center for the Penguins in 2017-18 is probably Jim Rutherford's hardest task. He is going to have to work hard to get something that makes sense from an on-ice perspective as well as a salary cap perspective. Overpaying a 29 year old Nick Bonino is something the team should (and probably is) looking to avoid. Rutherford is kind of in a go big or go home scenario.
Some of the options make sense, but aren't exactly probable. We've seen Joe Thornton and Matt Duchene discussed and while both would be excellent fits Joe Thornton might not even make it to free agency (depending on what Marleau does) and who knows what Colorado is going to do with Duchene.
Another option I alluded to in a previous blog, but have yet to outline in detail is trading for Tyler Bozak. The longtime Maple Leafs center has shown the ability to generate offense throughout his career when placed in a proper sheltered role. He isn't much on the defending front , but I really don't care. My goal with the next third line center for the Penguins is to restore the greatness of having three amazing scoring lines. The goal is to outscore teams. There is nothing saying you have to be great defensively to do it (hello 2016-17 Penguins). If you give up three, just get four. It's a hell of a lot more fun to watch, anyways.
Bozak also does the things that Nick Bonino does well and improves on them
Shot volume is a weakness for both, but kind of a non-issue if Phil Kessel is your winger. It speaks to why both players were a good fit with Kessel for periods of time.
That prior connection with Phil Kessel is another benefit with a Bozak trade. It worked both on the ice and off the ice as they were good friends away from the rink.
Bozak is no stranger to trade rumors swirling around him in Toronto. The Maple Leafs probably aren't actively shopping him, but at the same time he is far from untouchable. He is currently 31 years old and has one year remaining on his current contract which pays him 4.2M. His age is a non-issue given that he will be on an expiring contract. The term is also what makes pegging his trade value difficult. I would be open to trading Olli Maatta for a third line center like Bozak because I don't think replacing what Maatta brings would be all that difficult. However, I do believe Maatta has value on the trade market (2x Stanley Cup winner)and using him to trade for an expiring contract would be overkill.
Perhaps Carl Hagelin could be of interest. Similar cap hits, Hagelin has an extra year on his deal and it isn't like Toronto's left wing depth is amazing (Hyman, Komarov, JvR, Martin). There is a lot of speculation that James van Riemsdyk could be moved and a guy like Hagelin can help them absorb that potential loss.
There are no easy answers for Pittsburgh right now regarding their third line center position. It is likely they will have to overpay in unrestricted free agency or spend assets on the trade market. I think the team should focus on the latter.
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