Valeri Nichushkin returns to Colorado, why Lindy Ruff isn't the only one to blame for Devils' struggles and our PWHL mid-season awards.

The Pittsburgh Penguins received some good news on Monday, when Jake Guentzel returned to the ice for the first time since suffering an upper-body injury.

But don't hold your breath just yet on seeing him in Penguins jersey anytime soon.

Despite his speedy recovery, Guentzel was placed on long-term reserve, meaning he is not eligible to play until March 10. That's exactly two days after the trade deadline.

By then, who knows, he might be a member of the Golden Knights. Or Avalanche. Or any playoff-bound team looking for a sniper with Cup-winning experience. 

Where he won't be — or rather, where he shouldn't be — is in Pittsburgh. 

Technically, the Penguins still remain in the playoff picture. But as the second-worst team in the crowded and competitive Metropolitan Division (and also one of the oldest teams in the NHL), it's looking more and more like they will be sellers.

They need to get younger. Trading Guentzel, who is a 29-year-old pending unrestricted free agent, should allow them to do that.

This year's trade deadline is devoid of top-tier forward rentals. There's Guentzel. And Vladimir Tarasenko. And … that's pretty much it. That puts GM Kyle Dubas in an enviable position. While Dubas is on record saying that the Penguins will decide their own fate in the days leading up to the deadline, this team cannot pass up on the bounty that Guentzel would deliver.

Guys like Guentzel don't come around much often. He's a two-time 40-goal scorer, who had 36 goals and 73 points last season. He's also a heck of a playoff performer, who's already won a Stanley Cup and scored 34 goals and 58 points in 58 career post-season games.

A first-round pick is a guarantee. Toss in a blue-chip prospect and a 20-something roster player and the Penguins could be looking at a one-year retool that gets them back in the playoffs a year from now.

Then again, maybe the exodus of Guentzel will be the first domino to fall in what could be a long and painful rebuild.

Either way, changes are coming to the Penguins. 

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