Postcard from Prague: Nashville Predators players of old reunite at NHL Global Series

PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC – It has been reunion overseas, as the San Jose Sharks' roster in Prague features a few recent Nashville Predators: Forwards Nick Bonino and Luke Kunin and defenseman Matt Benning.

Oddly enough, the Predators traded Bonino to the Minnesota Wild for Kunin during the NHL Draft in October 2020.

"Playing with Luke after I was traded for him was kind of an interesting thing for me. It had never happened before," Bonino said Friday. "Two great guys we got this year (in Benning and Kunin). We have run into some of the Preds over the last few days (in Prague). I mean, we're all going to the same restaurants, kind of seeing the same spots. It's great to run into them. They are great guys.

"But I've played so many of former teams in the past, as long as I've been playing, that I'm kind of used to it by now."

When 14-year veteran Bonino joined the Sharks before last season, it made the sixth different franchise he has played for in the NHL. He played for the Predators from 2017 through 2020, scoring 47 goals.

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World Cup of Hockey update

The NHL remains on track to bring back the World Cup of Hockey tournament in February 2024 with eight national teams, said NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly.

Were the tournament held now, Team Russia would not be included as a result of that nation's aggression and the ongoing war in Ukraine, Daly said, but "lots can change between then and now," Daly said.

In weeks prior to this Global Series in Prague, there was uncertainty about whether the Czech Republic would permit Russian players on the Predators and Sharks to participate in the country. Ultimately, Russian players on each team – including the Predators' Yakov Trenin – were allowed to do so.

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Hey, why not 100?

My favorite Predators question so far from European media in Prague was one that Roman Josi fielded after Friday's morning skate.

Josi, who had a franchise-record 96 points last season, was asked "do you regret not getting to 100?"

Gosh, Roman, how bout stepping it up, huh?

Starting abroad

Friday’s game marked only the third time in NHL history – and the first time since 2009 – that opening day featured regular-season games played solely in Europe. The league opened in 2007-08 with a game in London and in 2008-09 with games in Prague and Stockholm.

Meanwhile, this Global Series will mark the sixth and seventh regular-season NHL games at O2 Arena in Prague – and the first two regular-season games in Europe for the Predators.

"For them," Daly said, "welcome to the club."

Daly mentioned both current majority Predators owner Herb Fritch as well as future owner Bill Haslam, the former Tennessee governor, in thanking each team for this Global Series. Both Fritch and Haslam traveled to Prague and attended a team function Thursday evening.

Reach Tennessean sports columnist Gentry Estes at gestes@tennessean.com and on Twitter @Gentry_Estes.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Former and current Nashville Predators reunite at NHL Global Series