In a trade that followed just minutes after the Matt Murray deal to the Ottawa Senators was announced, the Minnesota Wild and Nashville Predators got into the action as Nick Bonino, the #37 pick and the #70 pick was moved from the Preds to the Wild and coming back was Luke Kunin and #101 in this year’s draft.
Wild GM Bill Guerin was the assistant GM in Pittsburgh when Nick Bonino was in the middle of the “HBK” line and knows the player well. A 32-year-old with one year remaining on his deal, he’s a Stanley Cup winner who is will make an excellent 3rd line center. He has $4.1 M cap hit.
Needless to say, Guerin is really changing up his team.
Meanwhile, Kunin is 22 and scored 15-15-31 last season with Minnesota.
According to Chris Johnston of Sportsnet, there was no salary retained in the Nick Bonino deal and the Wild now have $8.467 million in cap space versus the Predators who now have $12.292 million in cap space.
Not long after, the Predators placed Kyle Turris and Steven Santini on unconditional waivers for the purpose of a buyout.
Next: G Matt Murray Traded to Ottawa Senators for 2nd Round Pick and Player
