Penguins GM Kyle Dubas made "one of the most difficult decisions that I have had to make in my time in management" in trading Jake Guentzel to the Hurricanes.

It took until late Thursday night, but it's official – Jake Guentzel is now a member of the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Pittsburgh Penguins traded the forward Guentzel and defenseman Ty Smith to the Hurricanes. In return, the Penguins receive forwards Michael Bunting, Ville Koivunen, Vasily Ponomarev, Cruz Lucius and conditional 2024 first-round and fifth-round draft picks.

If the Hurricanes advance to the Stanley Cup final this season, they'll send the first-rounder to Pittsburgh. Otherwise, they'll send a second-round pick in 2024. And if the Hurricanes win the Stanley Cup, they'll send the fifth-round pick to the Penguins.

The Penguins retain 25 percent of Guentzel's $6-million salary for the remainder of this season, when he becomes a UFA. Even after adding Guentzel, the Hurricanes still have about $5.74 million in cap space to potentially keep upgrading their roster.

“The decision to trade Jake Guentzel, with his contract set to expire this off-season, was one of the most difficult decisions that I have had to make in my time in management," Penguins GM Kyle Dubas said in a statement. "In my first season with the Penguins, it has become quite clear why Jake means so much to his teammates, all Penguins staff, and the City of Pittsburgh. 

“Jake’s competitiveness, tenacity and spirit, combined with his talent have produced some of the greatest moments of this era of Penguins hockey.”

Hurricanes GM Don Waddell said he's excited to bolster their lineup in the pursuit to win the team its second Stanley Cup championship in franchise history.

“Jake is an elite goal scorer and playmaker who has produced at a high level for his entire NHL career,” Waddell said in a press release. “Ty is a young, offensive-minded defenseman who will provide us with another reliable option on the blueline.”

Guentzel, 29, has 22 goals and 30 assists for 52 points in 50 games this season, with 466 points in 503 career games as a member of the Penguins. He was part of the team's Stanley Cup championship in 2016-17 as a rookie, posting an impressive 21 points in 25 games that post-season.

Smith, 23, has 32 points in 51 games for the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins this season. He has 47 points in 123 career NHL games, with 114 of those outings playing for the New Jersey Devils and nine for Pittsburgh. He can be an effective depth option on the Hurricanes' blueline in case of injuries.

Bunting leads the trade return to the Penguins. The 28-year-old has 36 points in 60 games this season, but in his breakout 2021-22 campaign, he's shown to be capable of getting 60 points. He still has two years left on his contract after signing with the Hurricanes last summer, worth $4.5 million per year.

Ponomarev, 21, is the only one of the three prospects in the trade to have played NHL games so far. He's technically a point-per-game player in The Show, with a goal and an assist in two career games played in January. He has 29 points in 39 games for the AHL's Chicago Wolves.

Koivunen has 53 points in 56 games for Karpat in the Liiga. The 20-year-old is tied for the team lead in points.

And Lucius, a 2022 fourth-round draft pick, leads NCAA Wisconsin in scoring, with 31 points in 32 games. The sophomore led his team in scoring last season as well, with 34 points in 34 games.

For more reaction, check out The Hockey News' Pittsburgh Penguins and Carolina Hurricanes sites.