GUENTZEL TALKS INTENSIFYING AS TRADE MARKET SPICES UP

TORONTO, ON — Trade discussions surrounding Pittsburgh Penguins sniper Jake Guentzel have escalated significantly and the possibility of a deal getting ironed out by end of day continues to grow.

As I reported on Monday on NHL Network, the Penguins decided over the weekend that their plan was to now trade Guentzel this week and the expectation out of Pittsburgh was a move could happen prior to deadline day.

On Tuesday, Darren Dreger reported a move was likelier to occur on Wednesday and it seems as if Penguins GM Kyle Dubas wants to get this bit of work finalized sooner rather than later so he can also address other potential deals over the next two days.

Word late Tuesday evening was the Penguins have told interested parties the time is now to pitch their best offers. We’ll obviously wait and see if things do gain further momentum as the day progresses, but Dubas wants to know what is available to him now.

The Vancouver Canucks, who seem to be at the top of the list, Florida Panthers, New York Rangers, Edmonton Oilers and Vegas Golden Knights, even after acquiring Anthony Mantha on Tuesday, seem to be in the thick of things. There may be another team or two lurking in the weeds.

The Canucks pose an interesting challenge. Over the weekend, the Canucks upped their interest in Guentzel, whom they tried to acquire earlier in the year. At the same time, also over the weekend, the player they acquired instead of him, Elias Lindholm, was being discussed with the Boston Bruins. As Chris Johnston revealed yesterday, the possibility of shipping Lindholm to Boston still exists.

What I was told late last night and earlier this morning was the likelihood of a formal three-way trade between the Canucks, Bruins and Penguins is slim. Possible, but slim. If the Canucks acquire Guentzel and move Lindholm out, it would be in separate moves. The Bruins wanted Lindholm locked into a contract extension when they tried to acquire him from Calgary before the Flames dealt him to Vancouver. I am curious if that desire remains. Lindholm was looking for around $9 million per year prior to the season.

Boston has also been evaluating the market on winger Jake DeBrusk, who is in the final year of his deal and has a $4 million salary cap hit. If the Bruins land Lindholm without any retention from any club, someone off the roster will have to leave and DeBrusk is a candidate.

Guentzel, who has a $6 million cap hit, is expected to test the waters as a free agent this July, and whichever team acquires him knows that.

I’ll never count out the Golden Knights in any major trade, but they would need the Penguins to eat some salary if they were to agree to a deal. The Panthers would love to add Guentzel, but they have been very reluctant to move young forward Anton Lundell, despite several teams inquiring about him. I do not know if that changes here, but I would be a little surprised if Florida deals Lundell, especially for a rental. The Rangers are willing to move Kakko Kaapo and their first-round pick, but it’s unclear if they’ve cough up much more.

Trade talk around the NHL has picked up significantly over the last 48 hours and we could see some fireworks today as a Guentzel move could have a trickle affect.

DEVIL IS IN THE GOALIE DETAILS

The New Jersey Devils still want Jacob Markstrom.

Here’s what I know: As I first reported last month, Markstrom is willing to formally sign off and waive his no-movement clause for the Devils. After an agreed-upon trade between General Managers was agreed upon, Flames ownership nixed the deal, refusing to retain part of Markstrom’s contract for another two seasons. The Devils circled back and wanted to work on a move that didn’t involve retention, though the belief is goalie Vitek Vanecek would need to be involved. The Flames weren’t interested, as he has another year left on his contract, and Flames GM Craig Conroy told Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald he was going to hold on to Markstrom for the rest of the season.

Is there a pathway to a deal over the next couple of days? I supposed it is possible, and while I could be wrong, I think this matter shifts to the summer.

Markstrom was visibly disappointed and upset that word got out, which is understandable. He is frustrated things changed, but he is also a professional. The Flames want to finish the season in a competitive manner and keeping Markstrom for the stretch will help that cause – especially after they move Noah Hanifin.

Speaking of whom...

HANIFIN TALKS HEATING UP

Things seem to have also picked up steam on the Hanifin front over the last 15 hours or so, with the Tampa Bay Lightning still the preferred destination.

This move certainly appears to be complicated, though, as it will likely include a contract extension. But agreeing to a new deal isn’t simple, as adding around $6 million to $6.5 million on Tampa’s cap next season takes away from their ability to get captain Steven Stamkos inked to a new deal – unless someone comes off the roster.

The Lightning have $10,647,500 in cap space in 2024-25, as par our friends at CapFriendly. Stamkos isn’t signing for $4 million on his next deal.

There was unconfirmed chatter this week the Flames expressed interest in centre Anthony Cirelli, who has a $6.25 million salary cap hit. While that would eliminate any cap issues moving forward, I am not sure how much of an appetite the Bolts have in moving him.

Several teams have poked around on Hanifin, including the Florida Panthers, Vegas Golden Knights, Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings, and the longer this goes without a trade to Tampa, the more the competition will to pry him away.

Both Florida and Detroit seem open to contract extensions, as well. I wonder about Lundell here, too, while I am not sure what package the Red Wings could piece together, though Jonatan Berggren is a player the Flames like – but it would take quite a bit more.

FLYERS WORKING AWAY

The Philadelphia Flyers are closing in on a three-to-four-year contract extension with defenceman Nick Seeler. It sounds like the dollars will be in the $3 million to $3.5 million range, but this could get done as early as today.

If the Flyers and Seeler agree to terms, the focus shifts to Sean Walker, who is looking for a five-year extension.

But Philly’s focus might not necessarily be exclusive to signing him.

Trade talk around Walker has picked up, with the Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs still in the mix, as I reported Tuesday evening.

Contract talks between the Flyers and Walker’s camp have been nonexistent since Friday or Saturday. I believe Flyers GM Danny Briere knows what it will take to get Walker signed, though he prefers a four-year deal worth around $4.5 million per season, from what I gather. The Flyers are trying to see if moving him pulls in a heavy return, which would justify a trade.

Walker likes Philadelphia and would welcome staying well beyond this season. We’ll see where this goes.

HERE AND THERE

• Vegas isn’t done dealing. They’re actively looking for another piece to add after acquiring Mantha and will utilize their available LTIR cap space as best they can.

• Florida is also in on Vlad Tarasenko, who will waive for the Panthers. Those talks have picked up in the last day.

• In Washington, left wing Max Pacioretty and defenceman Joel Edmundson seem next in line to move. The Capitals are exploring trade options and could retain some salary on one or both. Interest in Nick Jensen and Nic Dowd remain, but the Caps aren’t in a rush to move either.

• The Arizona Coyotes are getting calls some players with some term on their deals, like forwards Alex Kerfoot, Nick Bjugstad and Lawson Crouse.

• Toronto wants to add another defenceman, that seems to be the priority for the Maple Leafs – which is why they continue to check in on Walker. Do they go big on someone like Colton Parayko, or will they settle on a depth piece? They have just over 48 hours to figure it out.

• Oliver Wahlstrom would welcome a change of scenery and that’s partially why the New York Islanders are trying to package him in a deal for a scoring winger with term or someone who is controllable.

• Jake Allen remains in play, but the Montreal Canadiens are adamant they don’t have to pull the trigger now. The initial asking price involved a second-round pick or equivalent value. I’m not sure if the Habs will ease off that request, but if they do, the Colorado Avalanche could be a fit.

• The San Jose Sharks explored a contract extension with Alexander Barabanov, but that didn’t work out. I’m told he’s ready to move on and there is interest. I believe the Sharks touched base with Anthony Duclair on a new deal, too, but I’m not sure there’s a fit there, either. Duclair recently hired Paul Theofanous as his agent.

• As we wait on what Seattle does with centre Alex Wennberg, the New York Rangers remain in the mix. The Rangers are also in on Adam Henrique and Frank Vatrano from Anaheim.

• Speaking on Seattle, there hasn’t been much progress, I’m told, on an extension with Jordan Eberle as of this morning, but the two sides continue to work at it.