Wild and Preds swap centermen in a trade on Wednesday
Day two of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft has kicked off with a noteworthy trade between the Nashville Predators and the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday.
As confirmed by Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the Wild have acquired center Nick Bonino, a 2020 2nd round pick (37th) and 2020 3rd round pick (70th) in exchange for center Luke Kunin and a 2020 4th round pick (101).
Kunin was drafted 15th overall by the Wild in 2016 and took a big step forward at the NHL level in 2019-20, putting up 31 points in 63 games. With just 131 career NHL games played, the Preds are acquiring a good young player who they feel will fit in really well in their system.
A two-time Stanley Cup winner with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2015-16 and again in 2016-17, Bonino is the best player in the trade, without a doubt. The 626-game NHL veteran has played in primarily a third-line role during his NHL career, but has exhibited the ability to play within the top-six, which is where he will undoubtedly slot in in Minnesota.
Bonino registered 35 points in 67 games with the Preds in 2019-20. His career high was 49 points in 77 games during the 2013-14 season while he was a member of the Anaheim Ducks. He will stand a reasonably good chance of matching that level of production this season in a top-six role with the Wild.
| G | A | PTS | ||
| Bobby Brink | 1 | 3 | 4 | |
| Morgan Rielly | 1 | 3 | 4 | |
| Jonny Brodzinski | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Noah Cates | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Kirill Marchenko | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| David Pastrnak | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Tyson Foerster | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Cam Fowler | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Patrik Laine | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Oskar Sundqvist | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Nick Suzuki | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Urho Vaakanainen | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Dylan Cozens | - | 3 | 3 | |
| Zachary Bolduc | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Simon Edvinsson | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Mitch Marner | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Sam Bennett | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Adam Fantilli | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Brad Marchand | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Jake Neighbours | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Complete stats | ||||
| STANDINGS 2024-2025 | ||||||
TOP 10 | GP | W | L | OL | PTS | |
Jets | 58 | 41 | 14 | 3 | 85 | |
Capitals | 58 | 38 | 12 | 8 | 84 | |
Stars | 58 | 37 | 19 | 2 | 76 | |
Maple Leafs | 58 | 36 | 20 | 2 | 74 | |
Golden Knights | 58 | 34 | 18 | 6 | 74 | |
Panthers | 59 | 35 | 21 | 3 | 73 | |
Oilers | 58 | 34 | 20 | 4 | 72 | |
Wild | 58 | 34 | 20 | 4 | 72 | |
Lightning | 57 | 33 | 20 | 4 | 70 | |
Hurricanes | 58 | 33 | 21 | 4 | 70 | |
| Conference | Cumulative | ||||||