March 5, 2024 | 5:29pm ET
TheFourthPeriod.com
PENGUINS SET ON TRADING GUENTZEL
Jake Guentzel, forward
The Pittsburgh Penguins are planning on trading star sniper Jake Guentzel, TFP’s David Pagnotta first reported on NHL Network on Monday.
Guentzel, who is set to return off LTIR on March 10, is in the final year of his contract and is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent July 1. Without the desire to sign a contract extension with the Penguins right now, Pittsburgh GM Kyle Dubas has decided to move him ahead of the Friday trade deadline.
On Tuesday, word began to grow over Guentzel’s immediate future and TSN’s Darren Dreger reported the Penguins would like to get a deal done by Wednesday evening.
Guentzel currently sits No.1 on the TFP Trade Watch List.
“With respect to Guentzel, I'm told the plan now is to move him,” Pagnotta said Monday on NHL Network. “That is the expectation and the plan out of Pittsburgh. He will be traded ahead of the deadline.
“The asking price for Jake Guentzel: a first-round pick, a top-tier prospect who's ready to make the jump to the NHL or already has made that jump, and a third asset.”
The Pittsburgh Penguins are expected to be big sellers at the trade deadline, and Jake Guentzel is expected to be at the center of that. @TheFourthPeriod talks about what the asking price is for arguably the deadline's top target. @TonyLuftman | #LetsGoPens | #NHLTonight pic.twitter.com/G1574SMehP
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) March 5, 2024
Several teams are in the hunt for Guentzel, including the Vegas Golden Knights, Vancouver Canucks, Florida Panthers, Edmonton Oilers and Carolina Hurricanes, among others.
Guentzel is not expected to explore a contract extension with whichever team acquires him, as his plan may be set on testing the free agent waters this July.