[8] As a member of this team, he played on a line with brothers Tom and Cam Atkinson to win the Avon Old Farms Christmas Hockey Classic over The Frederick Gunn School.

[16] Bonino was recognized as the Hockey East Rookie of the Week on November 5 after he combined for three points in two contests against the UMass Lowell River Hawks, including the game-winning goal.

[22] Bonino's success continued into the annual Beanpot tournament where he helped the Terriers erase a 2–0 deficit against the Harvard Crimson and scored the first of three shorthanded goals in a 5–2 win over the Northeastern Huskies.

[30] While competing in the tournament, Bonino's playing rights were traded to the Anaheim Ducks with goaltender Timo Pielmeier in exchange for Travis Moen and Kent Huskins on March 4, 2009.

[37] After signing with Anaheim, he immediately joined the team and replaced Ryan Getzlaf in the lineup to make his NHL debut on March 26, 2010, in a game against the Edmonton Oilers.

[41] After attending their training camp, Bonino was reassigned to the Ducks' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, to start the season.

He played a third-line center role between Matt Beleskey and Brandon McMillan as the Ducks were forced to change their lineup following Bobby Ryan's suspension.

[53] While Saku Koivu recovered from an injury, Ducks head coach Bruce Boudreau gave Bonino a chance on the second line between Bobby Ryan and Teemu Selanne.

[54][55] Bonino was eventually moved down to the Duck's third line between Jason Blake and Andrew Cogliano on January 6, which also began the teams' seven-game point streak.

During the game, he played on a line with Ryan and Palmieri and tied his career-best plus-three rating while also tallying a career-high three assists en route to a 5–3 win.

[61] He eventually signed a lockout contract with HC Neumarkt-Egna in the Italian Serie A2 league, which included an opt-out clause if the NHL resumed play.

[63] Although Anaheim began the season with a 5–1–1 start, Bonino went scoreless in his first six games before scoring his first NHL hat-trick in a 7–4 win over the Los Angeles Kings on February 2, 2013.

[40] Bonino played in the Duck's home opener against the New York Rangers but suffered a lower body injury after taking a slap shot off the leg.

[72] Before suffering a right wrist injury after colliding with Philadelphia Flyers forward Zac Rinaldo in late January, Bonino ranked third on the team with 16 goals and 24 assists for 40 points.

[74] Bonino finished the regular season with 22 goals and 27 assists for 49 points and a +14 rating as he helped the Ducks maintain a record of 54–20–8, the best mark in franchise history.

[75] As the Ducks qualified for the 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs, Bonino's success during the regular season continued into their postseason contests against the Dallas Stars and Los Angeles Kings.

[86] Their success continued throughout the month as the Canucks manufacture over three goals rated per 60 minutes of even-strength ice time when Vrbata plays with Bonino at full strength.

[98] After Evgeni Malkin suffered a long-term upper-body injury on March 11 against the Columbus Blue Jackets, head coach Mike Sullivan put together a line of Carl Hagelin, Bonino, and Phil Kessel.

On March 26, Kessel and Bonino each recorded a career-high five points in the Penguins' 7–2 win over the Detroit Red Wings to help them maintain their third position in the Metropolitan Division.

[104] Once the Penguins qualified for the 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs, the HBK line helped them eliminate the New York Rangers, Washington Capitals, Tampa Bay Lightning, and San Jose Sharks.

[108] While playing in his first Stanely Cup Finals, Bonino scored the game-winning goal late in Game 1 to lead the Penguins over the San Jose Sharks.

[123] As they faced off against the Columbus Blue Jackets in the Eastern Conference First Round, Bonino was expected to center their third line between Scott Wilson and Patric Hornqvist.

[128] During the Penguin's Eastern Conference semifinals series against the Capitals, Bonino played with numerous wingers as Sullivan moved around the forward lines but failed to produce at the same pace as the previous season.

[141] After winning the Stanley Cup in each of his two seasons in Pittsburgh, Bonino left as a free agent to sign a four-year $16.4 million contract with the Nashville Predators on July 1, 2017.

[145] When the Predators announced their opening night roster, Bonino and defenseman Ryan Ellis were designated non-roster players but stayed with the team at the NHL level.

[165] After being eliminated from the playoffs by the Stars, the Predators signed Matt Duchene as a free-agent and traded Subban to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Steven Santini.

[166] Despite these loses, Bonino began the 2019–20 season strong by scoring eight goals four assists in his first 15 games to tie with Nathan MacKinnon, Mark Stone, and T. J. Oshie.

[40] On July 28, 2021, Bonino as an original San Jose Sharks draft pick, re-joined the team by signing a two-year, $4.1 million contract as a free agent.

[194][195] He was put on waivers by the Rangers on January 25, 2024, after posting one goal and four assists in 45 games,[196] and after clearing he was assigned to New York's AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack.

[197] Opting not to report to the AHL over the NHL All-Star break, Bonino was placed on unconditional waivers and subsequently mutually terminated his contract with the Rangers on February 7.