The instant Jake Guentzel was rumoured to be available, NHL teams lined up for his services, offers in hand. The Carolina Hurricanes were the lucky team, and now they get to fit him onto their team after this trade. Furthermore, the details of the full trade are as follows with Pittsburgh retaining 25% of his salary and also sending along Ty Smith. As for what they get in return, Michael Bunting is the key piece. Bunting currently has 36 points in 60 games as a member of the Hurricanes. Meanwhile Pittsburgh also received Ville Koivunen, Vasili Ponomarev, Cruz Lucius, Carolina’s 2024 first and fifth round picks (both conditional). Overall, that is a nice return for Guentzel.
Full trade:
Pittsburgh trades Jake Guentzel (25% retained) and Ty Smith to Carolina in exchange for Michael Bunting, Ville Koivunen, Vasili Ponomarev, Cruz Lucius, Carolina’s 1st RD pick in 2024 (Conditional) and Carolina’s 5th RD pick in 2024 (Conditional).— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) March 8, 2024
Jake Guentzel has been traded to the Carolina Hurricanes, per @TheAthletic pic.twitter.com/Qbmqqo2oaT
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) March 7, 2024
Jake Guentzel is a Hot Commodity
Far from being the latest of the Pittsburgh Penguins‘ series of Mark Donks, Guentzel belongs on any team’s top line. He was second on the Pens in goals (22) and points (52) at the time of the trade, both behind Sidney Crosby. He’s a two-time 40-goal scorer and was on pace for a third in 2019-20. That’s three times in an eight-year NHL career heading to a new team.
Taken in the third round in 2013, Guentzel cooked for three years in the NCAA. In his first pro season, he split time between Pittsburgh and Wilkes-Barre. Once he made his move to the NHL, however, there was no need to look back. An excellent showing in 40 games and 13 goals in 25 playoff games quickly made him a permanent fixture.
Indeed, his playoff statistics are one reason why Guentzel was in such demand. He has one Stanley Cup ring and averaged a point per game in the second season. That’s 34 goals and 58 points in 58 total games. The last season the Penguins reached the playoffs – in 2021-22 – they played just seven games but he scored eight goals. You know that was a huge part of any trade discussion.
What This Means
It took a lot to get Jake Guentzel, including negotiating around his 12-team modified trade clause. Now Carolina must decide how much they want to keep him. However, they now have a proven goal scorer for the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. Guentzel is in the last season of a five year, $6 million per contract. That’s a bargain for a player who’s scored 219 goals and 466 points in 503 games through eight years of an NHL career. The unrestricted free agent is 29 years old now, and he’s looking to make up for it in his next deal.
Main Photo Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
