supposedly the organization is having a big debate on resigning bonino while knowing its going to be 5 years 20/25 area. The pro-side is the window will be open for those years and the 3 center model wins cups. The negative is we have 3 highly paid centers for the positions they fill.
If guentzel and sprong are providing cheap wings and bonino takes a little discount I think resigning is the best way to get to the cup. Finding another cheap 3C replacement is easier said than done. FWIW I think statistically/analytically bonino grades out as a 2C playing 3C.
Other teams have taken notice of the importance of a dominant 3C. Backes in boston. lars eller to the caps for 2 2nd round picks and only 2 years of control. Eller also comes with a 3.5 cap hit with cash costs that are 4.5 for the final 2 years. Eller I would rate below bonino. I think Backes rates above bonino but not 100% sure on that.
- sditulli
I think that to keep the 3C, model, they'd have to get an outside option and its hard not to see that costing 3-4M a year anyways. Better to pay an extra 1M for the guy you know works I say.
And I agree with you, Bonino is more of a 2C. Great playoffs aside, this was his worst year in 3, he's proven he can score as a 2C and really his line is a second line. Malkin's line is more like a 3rd line that happens to have a top C.
If they can upgrade a couple spots cheaply internally, everything stays in place for the core. Bonino fits age wise right behind our 4 stars and what matters is maximizing the rest of their prime because when will we ever have a quartet like Crosby, Malkin, Letang, and Kessel?
