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While the NHL is on hold because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the Tribune-Review will offer the Double Team project, an examination of the five best players who have contributed substantially to the Penguins and another franchise. For consideration, a player must have played at least the equivalent of a full season for each franchise. (Sorry, Jarome Iginla fans.)
Today, a look at the Nashville Predators. After the city of Nashville made unsuccessful attempts to lure the New Jersey Devils and the NBA’s Sacramento Kings into relocating, the NHL granted an expansion franchise in 1998. In 31 all-time games against the Predators, the Penguins have a 16-11-4 record.
1. Patric Hornqvist, right winger
The Predators certainly didn’t expect big things out of Hornqvist when they drafted him in 2005. After all, he was selected with the 230th pick, last overall.
And Hornqvist certainly took his time in reaching the NHL. The native of Sweden remained in his home country until 2008-09 when he made his NHL debut, appearing in 28 games and collecting seven points.
By his second season, Hornqvist showed exactly what kind of player was as a relentless net-front presence. In 2009-10, Hornqvist appeared in 80 games and led the Predators with 30 goals and 51 points.
Hornqvist remained a reliable 20-goal threat for the next two seasons, helping the Predators reach the postseason on each occasion. But during the lockout-shortened 2012-13 campaign, Hornqvist struggled with injuries and was limited to 24 games.
The Predators missed the 2013 and 2014 postseason and needed to make changes. That involved dealing Hornqvist and reserve forward Nick Spaling to the Penguins for forward James Neal during the 2014 draft
Playing the same exact game he offered in Nashville, Hornqvist found a home on a line with franchise center Sidney Crosby as well as the top power-play unit. A 20-goal scorer in his first five seasons with the Penguins, Hornqvist was a vital component of their 2016 and 2017 Stanley Cup championships, scoring the Cup-clinching goal during Game 6 of the 2017 Final against the Predators.
2. James Neal, left winger
The man Hornqvist was traded for meshed well with his new team following the transaction, as well.
In 2014-15, Neal appeared in 67 games with the Predators and scored 23 goals, helping the team return to the playoffs. In total, Neal reached the 20-goal barrier all three seasons he played in Nashville while also earning a selection to the 2016 All-Star Game event. Additionally, he was a key component to the franchise reaching its only Stanley Cup Final in 2017.
A few weeks following that success, Neal was selected by the Vegas Golden Knights in the expansion draft.
Neal’s greatest individual success came in Pittsburgh, most notably his signature 2011-12 season which saw him establish career highs with 40 goals and 81 points while also earning a selection to the All-Star Game.
Acquired from the Dallas Stars via trade in February of 2011, Neal spent parts of four seasons in Pittsburgh, primarily as a linemate with franchise center Evgeni Malkin, and reached the 20-goal mark four times.
3. Nick Bonino, center
Acquired via trade with the Vancouver Canucks in July of 2015, Bonino’s first regular season with the Penguins in 2015-16 was underwhelming. Injuries limited him to 63 games and 29 points.
Thankfully for the Penguins, his first postseason in Pittsburgh was nothing short of remarkable.
As the center of the jury-rigged but dynamic “HBK Line” with Carl Hagelin and Phil Kessel, Bonino helped the Penguins dart their way past all opposition en route to the franchise’s third Stanley Cup title. In 24 postseason games, Bonino had 18 points.
Primarily used as a third-line center, Bonino’s second season with the Penguins saw him remain healthy for the most part and, in 80 games, he posted a solid 18 goals and 37 assists. And while the HBK Line was no longer utilized as it was the year before, he appeared in 21 playoff games and scored seven points, helping the Penguins defeat the Predators for the Stanley Cup.
A few weeks following that triumph, Bonino signed with the Predators and, since then, has been a steady contributor during the ensuing three seasons which have included Central Division titles in 2018 and ‘19.
A steady double-digit goal scorer who also kills penalties for the Predators, Bonino was in line to break the 20-goal barrier before this season was halted in mid-March. In 67 games this season, Bonino had 17 goals and 35 points.
4. Mark Eaton, defenseman
Eaton has a pretty unique but highly obscure place in NHL history as the league’s only player born in Delaware. And much like the northern portion of the Delmarva Peninsula, Eaton mostly existed in an underappreciated fashion during his 13-year career as a shot-blocking defensive defenseman.
The Predators acquired Eaton in a trade with the Philadelphia Flyers just prior to the start of the 2000-01 season. Finding a role as a bottom-pairing defenseman, Eaton was a somewhat infrequent presence in the lineup during his first three seasons in Nashville, never playing more than 58 games.
But by 2003-04, Eaton was a staple on the Predators’ blue line, appearing in 75 games while averaging 20:56 of ice time and helped the franchise reach the postseason for the first time. Following the 2004-05 lockout, Eaton appeared in 69 games in 2005-06 and led the team with 170 blocked shots, aiding the team’s return to the postseason.
After former Predators assistant general manager Ray Shero was hired as Penguins general manager in May of 2006, his first signing in July was a familiar face in Eaton.
Because of his style of play, Eaton was limited to 71 games and six assists during his first two seasons in Pittsburgh, but by the 2008-09 campaign, Eaton settled into a third pairing with rookie defenseman Kris Letang. Appearing in 68 games, he had nine points as well as 148 blocked shots. In the postseason, his offense perked up a bit with seven points in 24 games as he helped the Penguins claim the Stanley Cup for the third time.
Eaton’s best season, by his modest individual standards, was 2009-10 when he set career highs with 79 games and 16 points. After joining the New York Islanders as a free agent during the ensuing offseason, Eaton returned to the Penguins as a free agent signing early in the shortened 2012-13 campaign. In his final NHL season, Eaton played in 23 games during the regular season and eight contests in the postseason, helping the Penguins claim the Atlantic Division and reach the Eastern Conference final. He retired following the season.
5. Steve Sullivan, right winger
Sullivan was a major reason the Predators graduated from expansion team to playoff team in the mid-2000s. One of the first big trade acquisitions in franchise history, Sullivan came from the Chicago Blackhawks in February of 2004 and put up 30 points in 24 games with the Predators, helping them reach the postseason for the first time.
After the 2004-05 lockout, the Predators returned to the 2006 postseason thanks in part to Sullivan’s team-leading 31 goals as well as 68 overall points in 69 games. He was in the midst of another outstanding season in 2006-07 with 60 points in 57 games but a debilitating back injury suffered in February appeared to put his career in jeopardy.
Missing the remaining balance of that season, as well as all of 2007-08 and the first half of 2008-09, Sullivan rehabbed his injury and made a triumphant comeback to the lineup in January of 2009 following a 23-month layoff. Sullivan recorded 32 points in 41 games that season at the age of 34 and won the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy which recognizes dedication to the sport.
After two more solid but hardly spectacular seasons in Nashville, Sullivan left as a free agent, joining the Penguins as a free agent in July of 2011. He spent one season with the Penguins in 2011-12. Primarily used as a third liner who got ample time on the power play, Sullivan recorded 48 points in 79 games.
After the season, he was on the move again, signing with the Phoenix Coyotes.
Honorable mention: Bob Boughner, defenseman; Matt Cullen, center; Randy Robitaille, center; Spaling; Tomas Vokoun, goaltender.
Follow the Penguins all season long.
Seth Rorabaugh is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Seth by email at srorabaugh@triblive.com or via Twitter .
Categories: Penguins/NHL | Sports
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