Former Sharks Forward Announces Retirement From NHL
While the San Jose Sharks are focused on their offseason and what they can do to slowly begin climbing back into playoff contention, one of their former forwards has announced his retirement from professional hockey at the age of 37.
Nick Bonino, who spent the 2021-22 season and part of the 2022-23 season with the Sharks, is hanging up his skates. He played 868 career games in the NHL, scoring 159 goals and adding 199 assists for 358 points, which comes out to a 0.41 points-per-game average.
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Bonino spent the 2024-25 season with HK Olimpija Ljubljana in Slovenia in the ICEHL, where he scored six goals and added 11 assists for 17 points through 22 games.
He was expected to return there for the 2025-26 season, but has instead decided to join the Pittsburgh Penguins' organization as an assistant coach.
We wish Bonino all the best in his future endeavours, and the best of luck in this next chapter of his hockey career!
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San Francisco Chronicle
an hour ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Top NHL draft prospect Schaefer honors late-mother in not letting personal tragedies define him
When the time comes for defenseman Matthew Schaefer to take the stage at the NHL draft inside the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles this week, the top-ranked prospect won't be climbing the stairs alone. There's no doubt in Schaefer's mind his late mother Jennifer will be accompanying him in spirit. It will stand as a joyous moment for the 17-year-old Erie Otters player celebrating the person who's been at his side for every step even after she died of cancer some 16 months ago. 'I love talking about my mom, because I talk about the happy memories instead of the sad memories,' Schaefer said. He recalled the times Jennifer suited up in goalie equipment to face shots from him and his older brother. Even when sick, she'd muster the energy to play mini-sticks in the family basement. 'She's always with me in spirit. I know she has a front-row seat to every game,' Schaefer added. 'I just want to carry on her legacy and character and the person she was.' His mother's poise and strength are reflected in shaping Schaefer's-upbeat perspective in the face of other losses and setbacks. Some two months before Schaefer's mother died, the mother of his billet family was struck and killed by a train in what was ruled a death by suicide. In December, he was in Ottawa representing Canada at the world junior championships when Otters owner and Schaefer's mentor, Jim Waters, died of a heart attack. Schaefer broke his collarbone at the tournament, forcing him to miss the final three months of the season. Through it all, Schaefer refuses to be defined by pain and tragedy. 'My mindset has changed a lot with everything. Just seeing what my mom went through, having a smile on her face with cancer kind of trying to bring her down, but she wouldn't let it,' he said. 'She's the strongest person I've ever known.' No. 1 in Central Scouting rankings A testament to Schaefer's perseverance: The 6-foot-2, 183-pound player from Hamilton, Ontario, has remained atop NHL Central Scouting's rankings among North American skaters with the two-day draft opening on Friday. Though the debate between ranking Schaefer over high-scoring OHL Saginaw Spirit center Michael Misa was close, scouting director Dan Marr said Schaefer earned the nod because of the development he showed when healthy. Marr referred to Schaefer as 'stealing the show' at Canada's Under-18 summer camp before scoring six points (two goals, four assists) in captaining Canada to win the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup in August. After missing the start of the OHL season with mononucleosis, he posted 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists) in 17 games with Erie before being sidelined at the world juniors. 'He's one of the guys I think teams can safely interpret what you see is what you get,' Marr said of a two-way, fluid-skating defenseman who is responsible defensively, a play-maker offensively, and labeled 'a special talent' by Central Scouting. What's unmeasurable is Schaefer's character. 'He's just a breath of fresh air,' Marr said. It's a quality Otters forward Malcolm Spence saw in Schaefer every day as a roommate. 'He's a guy that you wouldn't even know what he's gone through,' Spence said. 'He wakes up every day with a smile on his face.' Engaging personality Schaefer's engaging personality was on display throughout the pre-draft combine in Buffalo, New York, followed by him joining top prospects in attending Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final in Florida. In skipping the combine's bench-press and pullup testing portions, he urged his fellow prospects to succeed. In Florida, Schaefer recalled how his hotel room wasn't ready upon arrival, so he took advantage of a sunny day. 'We got a little tan going on, a couple of us,' he said. 'I'm happy with that. I'm pretty light as it is. I have a hockey rink tan, as I'd say.' The only thing fazing him was being awestruck in meeting several NHL players, including Florida's Brad Marchand and Edmonton's Connor McDavid, a former Otters player who went No. 1 in the 2015 draft. Schaefer elicited a laugh when saying he was rooting for the Oilers, before noting he failed to mention that in meeting Marchand. Sharing his story There is a serious side to Schaefer, evident during the combine. He made a point to visit a Buffalo-area outreach group for grieving youths. Gwen Mysiak, co-founder of Western New York Compassion Connection, was impressed by how Schaefer engaged an audience that included about 15 youths, ranging in ages 7 to 17. 'When he walked through these doors, you sensed the genuine nature he has, and how passionate he is to make a difference with all his pain,' she said. 'To have peer support coming from a young man like that on the precipice of his NHL career was a gift,' added Mysiak, whose husband died two years ago. 'I will be watching the NHL draft for the first time in my life because he really captured our hearts.' Schaefer said the visit was the least he could do, noting he skipped his high school graduation ceremony to be there. 'There's young kids that are going through tough times. A lot of people love to keep it in, and I want to try to put their minds at ease in any way,' Schaefer said, before reflecting on his experiences. 'You know, if love could have saved them, they would have lived forever. That's a good saying I go by,' he said. 'But everything happens for a reason in life. Makes me super stronger. And I want to help people.'
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Oilers' Connor McDavid Receives Surprising Prediction From NHL Insider
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Edmonton Oilers and superstar center Connor McDavid made their second straight run to the Stanley Cup Final this season. Once again, they faced the Florida Panthers in the series and they once again came up short. After losing in seven games last season, the Oilers fell in six games to close out the 2024-25 campaign. It was another heartbreaking way to lose, coming up just short of a championship. McDavid is arguably the best player in the NHL right now. However, there are some question regarding his future moving forward. Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers celebrates after scoring a goal against Casey DeSmith #1 of the Dallas Stars during the second period in Game Five of the Western Conference Final of the 2025... Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers celebrates after scoring a goal against Casey DeSmith #1 of the Dallas Stars during the second period in Game Five of the Western Conference Final of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center on May 29, 2025 in Dallas, Texas. More Photo byAt this point, McDavid has just one more year on his contract. Next offseason, he could become a free agent if he doesn't work out an extension with Edmonton. Read more: Bruins Emerging as Potential Suitor to Steal Connor McDavid No one knows what this offseason will hold when it comes to a potential extension, but there are a lot of teams around the league who would love a chance to pursue him in free agency. With that being said, NHL insider Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic has offered a surprising outlook and prediction for McDavid's future. He believes that McDavid could prioritize a short-term deal as opposed to a massive long-term contract. LeBrun does believe that McDavid will re-sign with the Oilers, but he doesn't think he's going to sign a maximum extension. "There's a good chance McDavid will sign a shorter deal instead of an eight-year max one," LeBrun wrote. " Whether that's two years or three or five or six, time will tell. McDavid is still only 28. So a three-year deal, for instance, would put him back in an unrestricted-free-agent leverage position at 31, when he's still in his prime." Read more: Maple Leafs Named Possible Threat to Steal Brad Marchand During the 2024-25 NHL season, McDavid put together big numbers once again. He appeared in 67 games, scoring 26 goals and dishing out 74 assists for a grand total of 100 points. He also shot 13.3 percent. In the postseason, McDavid was dominant once again. He played in 22 games, scoring seven goals and recording 26 assists for 33 total points. His future will be one of the most talked about storylines in the NHL heading into next offseason if he hasn't signed a new deal with Edmonton. Should he become available, he would have a long list of teams calling him and trying to get him to leave the Oilers. For more NHL and sports news, head to Newsweek Sports.
Fox Sports
2 hours ago
- Fox Sports
Top NHL draft prospect Schaefer honors late-mother in not letting personal tragedies define him
Associated Press When the time comes for defenseman Matthew Schaefer to take the stage at the NHL draft inside the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles this week, the top-ranked prospect won't be climbing the stairs alone. There's no doubt in Schaefer's mind his late mother Jennifer will be accompanying him in spirit. It will stand as a joyous moment for the 17-year-old Erie Otters player celebrating the person who's been at his side for every step even after she died of cancer some 16 months ago. 'I love talking about my mom, because I talk about the happy memories instead of the sad memories,' Schaefer said. He recalled the times Jennifer suited up in goalie equipment to face shots from him and his older brother. Even when sick, she'd muster the energy to play mini-sticks in the family basement. 'She's always with me in spirit. I know she has a front-row seat to every game,' Schaefer added. 'I just want to carry on her legacy and character and the person she was.' His mother's poise and strength are reflected in shaping Schaefer's-upbeat perspective in the face of other losses and setbacks. Some two months before Schaefer's mother died, the mother of his billet family was struck and killed by a train in what was ruled a death by suicide. In December, he was in Ottawa representing Canada at the world junior championships when Otters owner and Schaefer's mentor, Jim Waters, died of a heart attack. Schaefer broke his collarbone at the tournament, forcing him to miss the final three months of the season. Through it all, Schaefer refuses to be defined by pain and tragedy. 'My mindset has changed a lot with everything. Just seeing what my mom went through, having a smile on her face with cancer kind of trying to bring her down, but she wouldn't let it,' he said. 'She's the strongest person I've ever known.' No. 1 in Central Scouting rankings A testament to Schaefer's perseverance: The 6-foot-2, 183-pound player from Hamilton, Ontario, has remained atop NHL Central Scouting's rankings among North American skaters with the two-day draft opening on Friday. Though the debate between ranking Schaefer over high-scoring OHL Saginaw Spirit center Michael Misa was close, scouting director Dan Marr said Schaefer earned the nod because of the development he showed when healthy. Marr referred to Schaefer as 'stealing the show' at Canada's Under-18 summer camp before scoring six points (two goals, four assists) in captaining Canada to win the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup in August. After missing the start of the OHL season with mononucleosis, he posted 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists) in 17 games with Erie before being sidelined at the world juniors. 'He's one of the guys I think teams can safely interpret what you see is what you get,' Marr said of a two-way, fluid-skating defenseman who is responsible defensively, a play-maker offensively, and labeled 'a special talent' by Central Scouting. What's unmeasurable is Schaefer's character. 'He's just a breath of fresh air,' Marr said. It's a quality Otters forward Malcolm Spence saw in Schaefer every day as a roommate. 'He's a guy that you wouldn't even know what he's gone through,' Spence said. 'He wakes up every day with a smile on his face.' Engaging personality Schaefer's engaging personality was on display throughout the pre-draft combine in Buffalo, New York, followed by him joining top prospects in attending Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final in Florida. In skipping the combine's bench-press and pullup testing portions, he urged his fellow prospects to succeed. In Florida, Schaefer recalled how his hotel room wasn't ready upon arrival, so he took advantage of a sunny day. 'We got a little tan going on, a couple of us,' he said. 'I'm happy with that. I'm pretty light as it is. I have a hockey rink tan, as I'd say.' The only thing fazing him was being awestruck in meeting several NHL players, including Florida's Brad Marchand and Edmonton's Connor McDavid, a former Otters player who went No. 1 in the 2015 draft. Schaefer elicited a laugh when saying he was rooting for the Oilers, before noting he failed to mention that in meeting Marchand. Sharing his story There is a serious side to Schaefer, evident during the combine. He made a point to visit a Buffalo-area outreach group for grieving youths. Gwen Mysiak, co-founder of Western New York Compassion Connection, was impressed by how Schaefer engaged an audience that included about 15 youths, ranging in ages 7 to 17. 'When he walked through these doors, you sensed the genuine nature he has, and how passionate he is to make a difference with all his pain,' she said. 'To have peer support coming from a young man like that on the precipice of his NHL career was a gift,' added Mysiak, whose husband died two years ago. 'I will be watching the NHL draft for the first time in my life because he really captured our hearts.' Schaefer said the visit was the least he could do, noting he skipped his high school graduation ceremony to be there. 'There's young kids that are going through tough times. A lot of people love to keep it in, and I want to try to put their minds at ease in any way,' Schaefer said, before reflecting on his experiences. 'You know, if love could have saved them, they would have lived forever. That's a good saying I go by,' he said. 'But everything happens for a reason in life. Makes me super stronger. And I want to help people.' ___ AP NHL: recommended in this topic
