With the Pittsburgh Penguins' playoff hopes all but dashed, word out of the Steel City is that they've finally decided to start selling.

And the big piece, star winger Jake Guentzel.

The 29-year-old forward is an upcoming UFA and has a $6 million cap hit for this season.

Guentzel has 22 goals and 52 points in 50 games this season and it's his seventh straight season with 20+ goals. Since entering the league, he's been one of the league's top finishers, with two 40 goal seasons.

He's a high-end playmaker and play driver, so his offensive ability would be an immediate boost to any team.

The current report is that Guentzel will be moved by the end of the day and that the asking price is a first-round pick, a young NHL player plus prospects.

So what would a package for Guentzel look like?

The first-round pick is easy enough, as the Canes still have all of theirs, and the prospect pool is deep and plentiful.

Obviously a player like Alexander Nikishin is untouchable, but there are more than enough prospects scattered around the NCAA and Europe to include in a package.

Players like Jackson Blake and Ville Koivunen are having big years and are sure to garner interest around the league and perhaps a player like 2019 first-round pick Ryan Suzuki, who could benefit from a change of scenery, could be piece in a package too.

For me, it all comes down to a young NHL player though with the most likely options being one of Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Jack Drury or Martin Necas.

The Penguins will immediately be asking for Martin Necas, but I'm not sure I'd be willing to do that if I'm Carolina.

Necas has started to really emerge as a consistent producer for the Hurricanes and as an upcoming RFA, he'll still be under team control, so any package with him wouldn't require much else.

But the 24-year-old speedster has 19 goals and 43 points in 56 games this season, so while Guentzel would be an upgrade over Necas, it isn't a super major one and it still leaves the team wanting to upgrade their scoring depth.

Also, Guentzel is an upcoming UFA and word is he isn't looking to sign an extension currently.

So what about one of Drury or Kotkaniemi?

Currently, Kotkaniemi's value is way down as he's seen his production (10 goals and 21 points in 61 games) and ice time plummet; however, he's a cost-controlled forward who has a high draft pedigree.

I still believe in Kotkaniemi and I think he's more so the victim of circumstance. 

I think he could be a really good 3C that can chip in offensively at time, but that 3C role is being served by Jordan Staal which doesn't leave KK a lot of wiggle room in the lineup.

Drury, in turn, has seen his numbers jump this season with eight goals and 26 points in 61 games.

After making the team out of training camp, Drury centered the fourth line for a while before his consistent play saw him make the jump to 2C.

He's a good faceoff guy who is responsible defensively and has seen steady time on both special teams.

Drury has grown a lot this season so I think team's could take in interest in him, however Carolina may be inclined to keep him due to his chemistry with Necas and Michael Bunting.

Both Drury and Kotkaniemi are steps down from Necas, in terms of trade value, but the Canes could in turn offer a package centered more on prospects, maybe even adding a Scott Morrow.

If the Hurricanes are serious about adding a player like Guentzel, that's what it will take, but Carolina hasn't shown that they are willing to move a ton of assets, especially not a roster player, for someone who is only a rental.