Predators boldly clear cap space by trading Bonino, buying out Turris
The Nashville Predators made big moves to clear up cap space heading into free agency. It’s fair to wonder if their bold moves to erase prior mistakes will only lead to more mistakes in the future, though.
In short, the Predators will buy out Kyle Turris, while sending Nick Bonino to the Wild for Luke Kunin. Minnesota also gained some upgrades in the 2020 NHL Draft. In a lesser move, Nashville also bought out Steve Santini.
But zooming out, the Predators paid big to gain salary cap space. Could it be in the name of reuniting free agent Taylor Hall with his former Devils coach John Hynes? We’ll see.
Predators trade Bonino to Wild for Kunin and cap space; Minnesota gets better picks
First, the Predators traded Nick Bonino to the Wild for Luke Kunin, with Minnesota getting pick upgrades for their trouble.
Predators receive: Luke Kunin, fourth-round pick in 2020 (101st overall).
Wild receives: Nick Bonino, 2020 second-rounder (37th overall, Marat Khusnutdinov) and a 2020 third-rounder (70th overall).
The key here is money. Bonino, 32, carries a $4.1 million cap hit that expires after 2020-21. The Predators get to determine how much 22-year-old Kunin costs, as he’s an RFA.
But of all of the mistakes the Predators made at center, Bonino seemed to right himself as a useful two-way player.
The Nashville Predators made big moves to clear up cap space heading into free agency. It’s fair to wonder if their bold moves to erase prior mistakes will only lead to more mistakes in the future, though.
In short, the Predators will buy out Kyle Turris, while sending Nick Bonino to the Wild for Luke Kunin. Minnesota also gained some upgrades in the 2020 NHL Draft. In a lesser move, Nashville also bought out Steve Santini.
But zooming out, the Predators paid big to gain salary cap space. Could it be in the name of reuniting free agent Taylor Hall with his former Devils coach John Hynes? We’ll see.
Predators trade Bonino to Wild for Kunin and cap space; Minnesota gets better picks
First, the Predators traded Nick Bonino to the Wild for Luke Kunin, with Minnesota getting pick upgrades for their trouble.
Predators receive: Luke Kunin, fourth-round pick in 2020 (101st overall).
Wild receives: Nick Bonino, 2020 second-rounder (37th overall, Marat Khusnutdinov) and a 2020 third-rounder (70th overall).
The key here is money. Bonino, 32, carries a $4.1 million cap hit that expires after 2020-21. The Predators get to determine how much 22-year-old Kunin costs, as he’s an RFA.
But of all of the mistakes the Predators made at center, Bonino seemed to right himself as a useful two-way player.
