‘Tough as nails’ Penguins forward Nick Bonino recovers from lacerated kidney
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This isn’t anything new for Nick Bonino.
Given his role and style of play, pain and injury are old friends.
Back in the spring of 2017, Bonino was able to play Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final with a broken tibia he suffered after blocking a shot.
He missed the final four games of the series but still played a role in the franchise winning its fifth championship.
Almost six years later, Bonino has been felled by another — but far more serious — malady.
On Saturday, it was revealed he had suffered a lacerated kidney during a 4-3 overtime home loss to the New York Islanders. The injury was so serious, Bonino was hospitalized and required an unspecified procedure to correct, according to coach Mike Sullivan.
“He was complaining (of discomfort) after the game, and we sent him to the hospital just to get things checked out,” Sullivan said. “We found out he had a lacerated kidney. He had a procedure done. Right now, he’s week to week.”
According to Sullivan, Bonino was scheduled to be released from the hospital Saturday.
It isn’t precisely clear when Bonino was injured during Thursday’s game. During the second period, he was struck by a puck and left the contest midway through the second period. Bonino was able to return by the start of the third period and completed the contest.
The Penguins re-acquired Bonino in a three-team trade March 3.
He had played in three games with the Penguins since the transaction before being injured.
“It’s crazy that he came back and played the rest of that game,” Penguins forward Jason Zucker said. “It shows the kind of player that he is. He’s tough as nails. He’s played in this league as long as he has for that reason. He’s a great player, a great character guy. Unbelievable toughness. It’s tough to lose him. He was playing great for us in those few games he played. Hopefully, we get him back soon.
“You know what type of player he is. He plays hard, he plays the game the right way. In all the areas of the game, he’s a guy that takes hits, gives hits. He battles.”
Following the Penguins’ championship in 2017, Bonino departed as an unrestricted free and has spent most of the past six seasons with the Nashville Predators, Minnesota Wild and San Jose Sharks before circling back to the Penguins.
In addition to the mettle he displays as a bottom-six forward as well as a penalty killer, Bonino was attractive to the Penguins for what he can provide to the organization’s atmosphere.
“He’s just an unbelievable guy,” said Penguins forward Jake Guentzel, who debuted as an NHLer during the 2016-17 season with Bonino as a teammate. “Keeps it light in here. Does the job on the ice. It’s definitely good to have him back and see him smiling.”
In 62 games between the Penguins and Sharks this season, Bonino has 19 points (10 goals, nine assists) while averaging 15 minutes, 54 seconds of ice time.
Sullivan projected some optimism Bonino could return before the end of the season but was short on specifics.
“It’s hard,” Sullivan said. “He’s a great guy. He’s a real good player. We were all excited to get him involved here for so many reasons. He’s a great voice in the locker room. He’ll continue to be that for us. He is on the mend and hopefully, he’ll be sooner than later. I do think the prognosis is somewhat encouraging. So we’ll see where that goes. But we’re going to lose him here for a couple of weeks.
“We’ve got to make sure we take care of business and hope that we get him back in a timely fashion and he continues to bring to this team what we had hoped.”