Pittsburgh Penguins
Canucks Making Push for Penguins’ Jake Guentzel
The Vancouver Canucks are still in on a trade for the Pittsburgh Penguins star.
PITTSBURGH – Internally, the Pittsburgh Penguins are hunting for a playoff spot. Externally, however, things continue to lean toward Jake Guentzel finishing the season with a team not named the Penguins.
Guentzel’s name has been linked to numerous teams, and despite their earlier swing for Elias Lindholm, the Vancouver Canucks are still sniffing around. According to Rick Dhaliwal, the Canucks are still in the conversation, and the return for Pittsburgh would be enormous.
“I’m definitely hearing they are in on Guentzel,” Dhaliwal said. “The asking price is going to be massive. You can can re-sign the player, I guess. Or you can do a sign and trade.”
The Penguins have set the bar high for one of their top performers. Since breaking into the NHL, Guentzel has consistently been one of the Penguins’ most important players, forcing a hefty asking price.
“If you’re going to go after Guentzel,” Dhaliwal said. “They want a first-round pick, maybe a second. They want prospects, they want young players coming in.”
Part of the equation for teams interested in Guetnzel will be the topic of extending him after his contract expires at the end of the season. Guetnzel’s price tag is sure to be high, considering his pedigree both as a goal scorer and playoff performer.
On the free agent market, Guentzel could easily grab a deal that earns him $10 million against the salary cap yearly. Dhaliwal doesn’t think the number will be that high, but it's still a large cap hit.
“Then you’re going to have to give that guy $8-9 million,” Dhaliwal said.
Dhaliwal didn’t quite say those numbers as something he’s hearing or as speculation, but those have been popular options for Guentzel’s next contract.
The Canucks have a management group that is not afraid to take multiple big swings. Penguins fans should know Jim Rutherford and Patrik Allvin lead them. That familiarity between the Canucks’ front office and Guentzel is a big reason why they are still around the move, as well.
The Penguins are looking for a playoff push, and they just might get one, thanks to the magic of Sidney Crosby. It’s possible, however, that he’ll have to do it without Guentzel.
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