SUNRISE, Fla. — Not much has changed with Nick Bonino since he last wore the black and gold. But he did acknowledge a few key differences Saturday.
He and his wife have three kids now. He is still a steady, heady two-way player but has had to tweak his game a bit as he nears his 35 birthday. Oh, and Bonino wryly offered up one more when asked what all has changed since 2017.
"Well, I'm fully bald now," he quipped.
The Penguins on Friday brought back the veteran center who helped them win the Stanley Cup in 2016 and 2017. The cost to get Bonino from the San Jose Sharks was a 2023 seventh-round pick and a conditional fifth-rounder in 2024.
Bonino arrived here in Florida late Friday night and spent time Saturday reconnecting with old teammates such as Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin
"We know this guy. Amazing person," Malkin said. "He's a good teammate, PK guy, faceoff. He can do everything. I hope he brings two more Cups for us."
When Bonino and Crosby strolled into FLA Live Arena together before Saturday's game against the Florida Panthers — which the Penguins lost, 4-1 — Rust and Jake Guentzel joked that the team photographer better snap a shot of that.
You know Mike Sullivan is happy to get the "cerebral" Bonino back in the fold.
"We're thrilled to have him. First and foremost, he's a real good person. Just an unbelievable teammate. He has established relationships with our core guys. I know they have a ton of respect for him," Sullivan said. "I think he'll not only really help us on the ice, but he'll help us off the ice in so many ways."
Bonino was a valuable two-way contributor and fan favorite during those Cup runs, centering the "HBK line" between Carl Hagelin and Phil Kessel in 2016. He tallied eight goals, 25 points and a plus-13 rating in those two postseasons.
He scored the series-clinching goal to beat Washington in the 2016 second round. He still gets a kick out of that famous "Bonino! Bonino! Bonino!" goal call.
After the second of those back-to-back Cups, the Nashville Predators gave Bonino an offer he couldn't refuse and the Penguins couldn't match. Bonino spent three seasons in Nashville, one in Minnesota then the last two in San Jose.
Bonino said his game hasn't changed all that much over the past six years.
"I just play as complete of a game as I can," he said. "I think I'm skating a lot more this year. I know that was something [David] Quinn and I talked about a lot in San Jose, just moving my feet more and skating to gaps. ... My strengths are usually thinking the game. And when I skate more, that makes it better."
Bonino, who will turn 35 next month, had 10 goals and 19 points in 59 games with the Sharks before he was dealt, something Bonino said he saw coming.
"With the deadline coming and you're a UFA, you know it's a possibility. You see the rumors. [General manager Mike] Greer kept me in the loop, which I really appreciated," Bonino said. "We knew after [San Jose's] game Thursday night that there was a deal in place and that we were going to make it happen."
Bonino has played for six NHL teams in his 14-year career. So he is used to easing his way into the dynamic of a new team. This will obviously be different.
"To come back into a room with everyone you know, it feels good," Bonino said. "The guys are welcoming, the guys I haven't met. So it's a good start."
Bonino logged just under 12 minutes of ice time in his return to the Penguins. He blocked two shots, won five faceoffs and had an even rating in the loss.
He was utilized right away on the PK. He lost a key faceoff and the Penguins gave up their 20th power play goal in 20 games. But the team is counting on him to help that unit, one of the NHL's worst since Christmas, get back on track.
"When you look at how our team has changed here over the last week or so, one of the areas where we think he can help us immediately is on the penalty kill. He's a very good penalty killer," Sullivan said. "He's made a career out of it."
Bonino looks forward to settling back into the Burgh for another Cup chase.
"I'm happy to be here," Bonino said with a little grin. "My best hockey memories in my life are with the Penguins. So hopefully I can make more of those."
