Hurricanes’ Jake Guentzel “Would Love” Return to Penguins
It appears that a reunion could be in the works for the Pittsburgh Penguins and pending free-agent forward Jake Guentzel.
Josh Yohe of The Athletic reported on June 20 that, according to a source close to the Carolina Hurricanes player, Guentzel is set to leave his current team and “would love” to rejoin the Penguins.
“Guentzel isn’t returning to Raleigh. Is there a chance he could return to Pittsburgh?” Yohe pondered. “The verdict: Guentzel would love to return to Pittsburgh, and there’s a chance it happens—but only a small chance.”
Yohe noted that Guentzel’s desire to return to Pittsburgh “makes sense” given his and his wife’s affection for the city, his positive experiences under Coach Sullivan, and his strong on-ice chemistry with Sidney Crosby.
However, several significant challenges lie between Guentzel’s free agency and a potential return to Pittsburgh.
First, the Penguins have to fill multiple roster spots with just $10.7 million in cap space and 15 active players under contract.
Second, Guentzel is expected to command “somewhere between $8 million and $10 million annually,” according to Yohe. This salary demand makes it financially difficult for Pittsburgh to accommodate him.
“All things considered,” Yohe concluded, “it appears quite unlikely that Guentzel will return.”
Jake Guentzel’s Comments on Hurricanes Extension
While Yohe acknowledged the appeal of a return to Pittsburgh for Guentzel, recent comments by the forward suggested a desire to sign a long-term extension with the Hurricanes.
“Hopefully, [I] can kind of get some stability and be able to sign here long-term,” he told reporters on May 18.
The Penguins drafted Guentzel with the No. 77 pick in the 2013 NHL draft. He spent eight seasons in Pittsburgh before being traded to Carolina on March 7. Guentzel amassed 466 points (219 goals, 247 assists) in 503 regular-season games and 58 points (34 goals, 24 assists) in 58 playoff games, playing a key role in the Penguins’ 2017 Stanley Cup victory.
The trade to Carolina came as a surprise, but Penguins GM Kyle Dubas justified the move with Guentzel in the final year of his $30 million deal.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, appearing on NHL Tonight on June 13, said he believes Guentzel “hasn’t given up on the idea” of staying in Carolina.
“Well, there’s obviously a lot of interest,” Friedman said. “I don’t think Guentzel has given up on the idea of Carolina. But I do think that he wants to explore the market before making a commitment.”
Guentzel’s Future: Pittsburgh or Carolina?
Carolina is in a similar position regarding Guentzel’s future. As a pending free agent, the Hurricanes are considering trading his negotiating rights before the market opens to avoid losing him for nothing.
Friedman reported on June 7 that the Hurricanes have valued Guentzel at the price of a “mid-round pick” if they cannot secure an extension before July 1.
“It sounds like he is available for a mid-round pick,” Friedman said. “Carolina has let everyone know that if you want to trade for his rights to negotiate, it’s possible for a mid-round pick.”
Guentzel scored 25 points in 17 regular-season games and added 9 points in the playoffs. Former Hurricanes GM Don Waddell emphasized the team’s interest in keeping Guentzel.
“With Jake, I think he played a good role here,” Waddell said on May 20. “We have begun those talks. We’ll talk to him also.”
Friedman also highlighted Carolina’s strategy of allowing players to explore the market while keeping the door open for their return. However, this could be risky if Guentzel finds a team with enough cap space to make an appealing offer.
“Carolina’s kind of an interesting team,” Friedman said. “They’re not afraid of saying ‘Okay, this is what we consider our limit, and you can see what else is out there.’”
The Penguins are unlikely to trade for Guentzel’s rights if the forward is interested in negotiating with them just a few days later. Whether Pittsburgh will use most of its cap space to sign Guentzel remains uncertain and depends on how they handle other roster decisions.
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