An NHL veteran is on a path to becoming a free agent.
On Thursday, the New York Rangers placed forward Nick Bonino on unconditional waivers for the purpose contract termination.
The 35-year-old was placed on waivers by the Rangers on Jan. 25, and cleared the following day. It was the first time Bonino had ever been placed on waivers in his career.
He was given the option to join the team’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack. According to Peter Baugh of The Athletic, New York allowed Bonino to think about it over the All-Star break, but he effectively decided to ask the team to terminate his contract. The Rangers honored that request.
With the contract being terminated, Bonino will immediately become a free agent. The Hartford native has bounced around the league over the last few seasons, before signing a one-year, $800,000 contract with the Blueshirts this past offseason.
In 45 games this year, Bonino mustered up just one goal and four assists, and has not played since Jan. 23.
In his 14-year NHL career, Bonino has played for the Anaheim Ducks, Vancouver Canucks, Pittsburgh Penguins, Nashville Predators, Minnesota Wild and San Jose Sharks, helping the Pens win back-to-back Cups in 2016 and 2017. In 868 career games, he has totaled 159 goals and 199 assists, including 48 points in 105 playoff games.
Bonino was originally drafted in the sixth round of the 2007 NHL Draft by the Sharks, but his rights were traded to the Ducks, along with Timo Pielmeier and a 2012 fourth-round pick, in March 2009 for Travis Moen and Kent Huskins.
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