How has life modified for Nick Bonino within the years since he left Pittsburgh?

“Properly, I am totally bald now,” he quipped with a smile.

Either side are thrilled that ‘Bones’ and his dry humorousness are again with the Penguins, who acquired the 34-year-old ahead from San Jose on the commerce deadline for the two-time Stanley Cup Champion’s second stint with the workforce.

“There’s been just a few years, just a few groups between. However it feels nice to be again,” Bonino mentioned after arriving on the workforce resort in Florida late final night time. “I’ve received three stunning youngsters, and I’ve grown up quite a bit. So, plenty of adjustments, however I really feel pretty much as good as ever, and I really feel like I am in a great spot proper now. My greatest hockey recollections of my life are with the Penguins, so hopefully, make extra of these.”

Video: Bonino speaks to the media.

The Penguins are clearly very acquainted with Bonino’s sport, which is fairly just like the way it was six years in the past. Mike Sullivan all the time favored utilizing the phrase “cerebral” to explain Bonino, and that actually nonetheless applies as we speak.

“I simply play as full a sport as I can,” Bonino mentioned, including that he and Sharks head coach David Quinn – who performed with Sullivan at Boston College, the place Bonino later went to highschool – talked quite a bit about his skating this 12 months.

“Simply transferring my ft extra and skating to hole, issues like that,” Bonino mentioned. “So that is what I’ve targeted on. However my strengths are normally pondering the sport, and after I skate extra, that makes it higher.”

Sullivan mentioned the penalty kill is an space Bonino can contribute instantly, particularly with Teddy Blueger being despatched to Vegas, together with simply bolstering their bottom-six total. He comes right here having scored at the very least 10 targets in seven straight seasons, and 9 total.

However for as a lot because the Penguins really feel like Bonino will assist them on the ice, Sullivan is aware of he’ll assist them off the ice in so some ways.

“At first, he is an actual good individual, simply an unbelievable teammate,” Sullivan mentioned. “He has established relationships with our core guys. I do know they received a ton of respect for him.”

“We all know this man, you already know?” Evgeni Malkin mentioned. “He is an incredible individual, robust to play towards him. He is an excellent teammate. PK man, faceoffs. He does every little thing. I hope he brings two extra Cups for us!”

Bonino heard from a bunch of the fellows he received with all through the day on Friday after the information had gotten out, together with his favourite textual content coming from the captain. “Sid requested me if we have to order extra Alfredo sauce. I mentioned I will not ruffle any feathers Day 1,” Bonino grinned.

The 2 of them ended up strolling into the rink collectively forward of Pittsburgh’s matchup with the Panthers. Because it was being captured on digital camera, Bryan Rust got here by with the soccer ball and mentioned, “The outdated buddies reunited – good! Get that shot!” Jake Guentzel chimed in, “Cannot miss that one!”

Bonino had gotten the prospect to meet up with just a few of them when the Penguins hosted the Sharks of their final sport earlier than the bye week, and reminisce about their runs, which he performed an enormous half in. He hears the well-known BONINO BONINO BONINO aim name, which got here after he scored the series-clinching time beyond regulation winner in Recreation 6 of the 2016 Second Spherical vs. Washington, “pretty usually.”

Tweet from @penguins: Something to lift your spirits 💛 pic.twitter.com/dXg8NrUNNz

To see all of them in individual as we speak, and meet the remainder of the group, made Bonino much more excited concerning the alternative forward.

“There’s clearly familiarity. Even being on the rink this morning, I have been on new groups a bunch of instances… you come again right into a room with everybody you already know, it feels good. The blokes are all very welcoming, the fellows I have not met. So it was an excellent begin,” he mentioned.