Reason revealed on why Nick Bonino requested to be placed on unconditional waivers by Rangers

The New York Rangers placed veteran forward Nick Bonino on unconditional waivers on Tuesday for the purpose of contract termination.

Bonino was placed on waivers before the All-Star break, but cleared the next day. Things got more complicated when the team asked Bonino to report to the Rangers’ American Hockey League affiliate in Hartford.

According to insider Peter Baugh, Bonino had no interest in heading to the AHL farm club, and requested his release his release from the Rangers. The Rangers gave him the All-Star break to consider his options and he came back with the decision to have his contract terminated with the club.

“He decided he didn’t want to report to the AHL and asked the Rangers to terminate his contract. The team, which has a lot of respect for him, honored that request.”

Bonino was signed to a one-year, $800,000 contract last summer and put up one goal with four assists over 45 games this season with Rangers.

This sounds like it could be the end of Bonino’s career in the NHL, as he would need to be signed as a free agent by any of the 31 other teams in the league prior to the March 8 trade deadline in a month.

In a total of 868 career NHL games, spanning 15 seasons, Bonino has recorded 358 points (159 goals and 199 assists). He played for the Anaheim Ducks, Vancouver Canucks, Pittsburgh Penguins, Nashville Predators, Minnesota Wild and San Jose Sharks, before joining the Rangers. However, Chris Johnston believes there have been inquiries from teams in the league.

After all, Bonino is a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Penguins in 2016 and 2017, where he recorded eight goals and 25 points those two post-seasons.

He cleared on Wednesday and is now a free agent.

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