Guentzel's signing rights are reportedly on the trade block; Utah should be working the phones with the Hurricanes.
According to Elliotte Friedman on the latest episode of 32 Thoughts the Podcast, the Carolina Hurricanes are open to trading Jake Guentzel's signing rights for a mid-round pick in the upcoming NHL Draft.
Friedman said, "It sounds like he's available for a mid-round pick," and then went on to say that the Hurricanes have let everyone know that they can get a chance to sign him before the July 1 deadline.
Utah has to be in on this; they want to be aggressive this off-season so they can be as competitive as possible for next season. Bringing in an experienced Stanley Cup winner with Guentzel's skill can vastly change the direction of this organization.
Utah has 13 draft picks in the upcoming 2024 NHL Draft; six of them fall within rounds two and three.
Hypothetically, Utah could part ways with a second or third-round pick and be able to afford his next deal, which will likely be in the neighbourhood of $8.5–9 million for eight seasons.
This would be the first of many splashes that Utah could make this off-season and could help change the direction of the franchise. A player like Guentzel can attract other talented players to sign with your team.
If Utah can lock up a first-round centerman like Elias Lindholm during this free agency and acquire the rights to Guentzel, their first line could look like this net season, Keller-Lindholm-Geuntzel, which would be a very offensively talented trio.