Penguins/NHL
Penguins GM Jim Rutherford has put his final stamp on the Penguins off-season. Rutherford today unloaded center Brandon Sutter to the Vancouver Canucks in-exchange for forward Nick Bonino, defenseman Adam Clendening and a 2016 second-round pick.
The Canucks receive Sutter and a 2016 third round pick from the Penguins.
The Penguins also today signed veteran center Eric Fehr to a 3 year, $6 million contract, solidifying the 4th line center spot in a big way.
The key player in today’s moves is Bonino. The 27 year old potentially upgrades the third line center spot and is signed for two more seasons with a cap hit of $1.9 million. Bonino had 15 goals and 24 assists last season for Vancouver. He scored 22 goals and 49 points in 2013-2014 with the Ducks and was the centerpiece of the Ryan Kesler trade in the summer of 2014. Bonino is also winger and some scouts like him better on the wing.
Fehr, 29, will be sidelined for the start of the season due to elbow surgery. He had surgery on June 3 with a 4-6 month timetable. Fehr scored 19 goals and 33 points last season for Washington.
