Reports: Penguins’ Jake Guentzel close to being dealt to Carolina
Share this post:
As the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals closed in on puck drop Thursday at PPG Paints Arena, significant traction was reported regarding a trade of injured winger Jake Guentzel.
Several NHL insiders said Guentzel, 29, was close to being dealt to the Carolina Hurricanes.
Neither club has confirmed the trade.
Again, just to be clear, the Guentzel trade is not quite done yet. Both teams playing tonight, some final details to be ironed out, sounds like a post game trade call with the league. But all signs pointing to Guentzel heading to Carolina.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) March 7, 2024
Michael Bunting is scratched tonight for Carolina. There is word he will be traded to Pittsburgh as part of a deal for Jake Guentzel
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) March 7, 2024
Carolina forward Michael Bunting, who has 13 goals and 23 assists in 60 games played this season, was named as a potential piece in the deal to be sent back to the Penguins.
The Hurricanes held him out of their Thursday night game against Montreal for “trade-related reasons.”
Penguins president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas acquired Bunting once before while with the Toronto Maple Leafs, signing him to a two-year, $1.9 million deal in unrestricted free agency in 2021.
A fourth-round selection by the Arizona Coyotes in 2014, Bunting has scored 70 goals and 92 assists through 247 career NHL games.
His most productive NHL campaign came with the Maple Leafs in 2021-22, when he scored 23 goals with 40 assists.
Guentzel has been on long-term injured reserve with an undisclosed ailment since mid-February and is eligible to return to action March 10.
At the time of his injury, he had scored 22 goals with 30 assists in 50 games played this year.
By the time Washington left town with a 6-0 win Thursday night, no further clarification on Guentzel was available.
His cubby remained occupied within the Penguins’ locker room postgame.
After the game, several Penguins players were given the (still unconfirmed) news of Guentzel’s impending departure.
“He’s a tremendous player on the ice, we all know that,” said alternate captain Kris Letang. “He’s a guy that has got so much passion, and he comes to the rink with a big smile every day, works hard. He’s contagious around our dressing room. So, whatever happens, he’s gonna be a big part of our team. But we have to regroup, and some people will have (opportunities) to show up.”
Added fellow defenseman Marcus Pettersson: “The guy he is in the room, the kind of clutch gene that he has, how he can find different ways to score on the ice — just the energy that he brings, he’s always got a smile on his face. He’s a huge leader.”
Guentzel, with 219 goals and 247 assists in 503 career games, ranks 11th in franchise history in points.
He was originally selected by the Penguins in the third round (No. 77 overall) of the 2013 NHL Draft.
Guentzel made his NHL debut with Pittsburgh in fall 2016 and helped the club to a Stanley Cup that following spring.
Over his career, he had been primarily deployed by the Penguins as their first-line left wing alongside franchise center Sidney Crosby.
“He’s a great player, great teammate, a friend,” Crosby said. “Did everything he possibly could in his time here. Just privileged to play with him for the course of that time. Some great memories. It was just a privilege, that’s all I can say.”
To coach Mike Sullivan, speculation around Guentzel’s trade may have impacted the Penguins’ performance Thursday.
“Nothing’s official, as far as my understanding,” he said of the trade. “But obviously, we didn’t do a good enough job handling a lot of that noise that’s going on around the team. Jake means an awful lot to these guys. When you win championships together, there’s a certain bond there that’s hard to put into words.
“These guys are human and as much as we preach stay on task here and focus, obviously I have to believe that some of that had an impact on what went on on the ice tonight.”
The NHL trade deadline is at 3 p.m. Friday.