Official: Former New York Rangers officially joins coaching staff of Metropolitan Division Rivals

Former New York Rangers forward Nick Bonino spent the last year of his professional hockey career playing in Slovenia with HC Olimpija Ljubljana of the ICEHL.

While the thought was he'd be staying in Slovenia after signing a new deal with HC Olimpija, it appears he had other plans. As the former Stanley Cup champion and New York Rangers forward is coming back home to America.

And he'll be joining former New York Rangers assistant coach Dan Muse to make the Pittsburgh Penguins rebuild a success.

Bonino will replace one of many assistant coaches who have left when Mike Sullivan was fired, including David Quinn, who ironically has re-joined the Rangers as an assistant. Former Penguins assistant coach Mike Velucci would head to Chicago to join Jeff Blashill's new regime in the United Center.

With confirmation of his retirement from the game of hockey with this move, the former sixth-round pick spent 15 of his 16-year professional hockey career in the NHL, and would win the Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins two-times in 2016 and 2017.

Bonino spent the majority of his career as a two-way third-line center who put up depth scoring numbers, typically 35 points or more per season. He'd be nominated for the Selke Trophy twice as a Nashville Predator, when he cashed in on a deal after winning the cup twice in Pittsburgh.

He'd return to the Penguins for the first time in 2023, and his stint would be short due to the fact that he'd suffer a kidney laceration, ending his season.

Bonino would last play in the NHL with the New York Rangers during the 2023-2024 season before his contract would be mutually terminated.

However, he will officially return to the Pittsburgh Penguins as an assistant coach, along with Todd Nelson, Rich Clune as assistant coaches, and Troy Paquette as the team's assistant video coach.

He's played a total of 868 games, which will be a benefit to the rookies and prospects who are soon to join the Penguins as Kyle Dubas begins the long process of a tear-down and rebuild.