Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jake Guentzel is in the final year of his contract, and a contract renewal is uncertain during the team's struggles. Here are three teams who could benefit from Guentzel in a trade.

Throughout his eight-season NHL career, winger Jake Guentzel has been a steady supplier of elite offense for the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

At age 29, he’s on pace to set new career highs in assists and points – he’s currently got 25 helpers and 43 points in 37 games – but he’s part of a Penguins team that has been a huge disappointment this season. Thus, given that he’s in the final season of his current contract and will be a UFA this coming summer, Guentzel has been the subject of speculation as to the next part of his career.

For example, Guentzel’s agent, Ben Hankinson told NHL Network Radio that negotiations on a new contract for his client could go sideways.

“Could it get ugly?” Hankinson said of negotiations with Pens GM Kyle Dubas. “Yes, it could. Kyle has decisions to make, too, which way the team is going and the investments he’s going to make with Jake.”

If the Penguins continue to struggle, Dubas could indeed put Guentzel on the trade block and move him by the NHL’s March 8 trade deadline. And if that’s what happens, there will be no shortage of teams interested in dealing for Guentzel. 

Here are three teams that could make a trade for him:

Seattle Kraken

The Kraken’s recent surge in the Pacific Division standings has breathed new life into their season. Seattle GM Ron Francis has every reason to go out and trade for a veteran who can contribute for the remainder of this season and years to come. 

The Kraken are well known for having forward depth but no true star player on offense. If Francis is looking to augment his core, Guentzel could easily give the Kraken the offense they’re looking for, even if it means making cap room to bring him on.

Colorado Avalanche

The Avalanche have lost captain Gabriel Landeskog for this season and last season due to injury, but that has freed up millions in cap space. Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland freed up even more cap space with the trading of veteran winger Tomas Tatar to Seattle. 

Guentzel would be a perfect fit on one of Colorado’s top two lines and either be a pure rental player for the Avs or be a long-term fit once Landeskog’s future has been determined. 

Dubas may choose to move Guentzel out of the Eastern Conference in any trade, and the Avs’ chances of winning another Stanley Cup would rise drastically with Guentzel on board. No one should be surprised if the Avs are the team that wins any bidding war for Guentzel.

New York Islanders

We’ve included the Islanders on lists of teams interested in other players, but without question, Isles GM Lou Lamoriello should be in on any Guentzel trade talks. 

The core on Long Island is not enough to be one of the top offensive teams in the highly competitive Metropolitan Division. While Dubas may be more hesitant to ship Guentzel to a team in the same division as the Pens, Lamoriello has a sufficient number of draft picks – all three of their next first-round draft picks and two second-rounders in the next three seasons – to make a deal work. 

Lamoriello has shown he’s prepared to keep his players under contract for the long term, and Dubas could command more for Guentzel in a trade if Guentzel signs an extension with the team that acquires him. Long Island has been a welcoming place for last season’s big acquisition, former Canucks center Bo Horvat, and it could be a great landing spot for Guentzel.