One of the biggest trades in recent Pittsburgh Penguins memory is set to make his Carolina Hurricanes debut.

PITTSBURGH – The last time Jake Guentzel stepped on NHL ice was a Valentine’s Day game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Florida Panthers. Almost a month later, Guentzel is ready to return to the lineup, but things are vastly different for the multi-time 40-goal scorer.

The day before the trade deadline, the Penguins dealt Guentzel to the Carolina Hurricanes for several prospects and draft picks. The Hurricanes are set to face the New York Rangers in what is expected to be Guentzel’s debut in Carolina.

Guentzel has been dealing with an upper-body injury rumored to be a fractured finger. The injury disrupted a fantastic season for Guentzel as a member of the Penguins, with 22 goals and 30 assists for 52 points in 50 games played.

According to Hockey News’ Ryan Henkel, Guentzel participated in the Hurricanes’ morning skate and worked on the second line with former Washington Capitals forward Evgeny Kuznetsov and Martin Necas.

Hurricanes’ head coach Rod Brind’Amour didn't give a definitive answer, but things seem likely. Brind'Amour said Guentzel will take part in pregame warm ups and they'll go from there.

Guentzel was arguably the biggest name available at the trade deadline, and the Penguins didn’t have much choice but to send him to the Hurricanes. They won the auction with three prospects immediately fitting in the top 10 in the Penguins’ pipeline.

The Penguins and Hurricanes still have one more meeting on the schedule: March 26 in Pittsburgh. If he stays healthy, that will likely be Guentzel’s first game back in Pittsburgh since the move.

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