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800-Game NHL Veteran and Cup Champion Agrees to Deal in Slovenia

Originally posted on House of Hockey | By Tom Banks | Last updated May 10, 2025 8:42 PM ET

Nick Bonino had a fantastic career across 15 years in the NHL, but after signing his latest deal overseas, we may have seen the last of him in North America.

Debuting back in 2009 with the Anaheim Ducks, Nick Bonino would go on to play almost 800 games with the Anaheim Ducks throughout his career, and in that time, he became one of the most respected players in the entire NHL.

His patience and valuable experience eventually paid off as he would be a key part of two Stanley Cup runs with the Pittsburgh Penguins, but after the 2023/24 campaign with the New York Rangers, it became clear that he wasn't up to the NHL level anymore.

As a result, he inked a deal with HK Olimpija Ljubljana, playing 22 games for the team a year ago while tallying 6 goals and 17 points, and now, it's been made official that he will be returning to Slovenia with the team for the 2025/26 campaign as well.

The 37-year old will no doubt continue to be a fantastic leader for the team, and even though he's not the player he once was, he can still be a good contributor to a winning team and a winning environment at that level.

While Bonino was likely never going to return to North America to play at the NHL level, many were hoping to see him in the AHL, but if he is signing a new deal at this time of year, that may mean he isn't getting any interest in either the NHL or the AHL, so while there's always a chance we see him back on home soil, for now, he's looking to play his role in Slovenia as he continues his illustrious professional hockey career.

This article first appeared on House of Hockey and was syndicated with permission.

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