The Vegas Golden Knights have inquired about pending free agent winger Jake Guentzel from the Pittsburgh Penguins, according Sportsnet journalist Elliotte Friedman. The team needs the wings and has injury pool money to spend on the NHL trade market.
During Saturday night’s Hockey Night in Canada, Friedman mentioned several teams that were considering signing Guentzel. The list included the Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks, but Friedman’s squad was the Golden Knights.
“I think talk really intensified around the Penguins after they lost to LA last week in the great (Jaromir) Jagr retirement ceremony night,” Friedman said. The big name is, of course, Jake Guentzel. He has piqued the interest of all. It appears that teams from Vegas, Vancouver, Edmonton, Carolina, and Florida have shown interest.
Guentzel, 29, a future unrestricted free agent, has 52 points, 22 of which come from goals. Other from center Sidney Crosby, the LW has been very productive. Guentzel scored 36 goals the previous season and recorded 40 points the year before. Although he has been a consistent offensive force for Pittsburgh and was selected for two All-Star games, trade whispers are circulating in the NHL.
His contract, which has an average yearly worth of $6 million, expires this summer. Kyle Dubas, the general manager and president of hockey operations for Pittsburgh, has postponed making a decision regarding Guentzel’s future, but it appears that he isn’t part of the team’s long-term goals even if they don’t sell him before the NHL trade deadline of March 8.
“I believe that our team’s performance and the way our entire plan is implemented over the next two and a half weeks will determine the outcome at the trade deadline,” stated Dubas. “Those conversations before and after that will still take place. However, I would say that I am aware of how important he has been as a community member, a teammate, and a player in this team’s Stanley Cup victory. We must assess our current situation and acknowledge that our desire to seem younger is one of our problems.
The Golden Knights have roughly $6 million in salary cap room, according to PuckPedia.com. Mark Stone, the captain of VGK, is inconsistent in his starting lineup. There is talk that Stone won’t be ready for the postseason until the playoffs.
With the Penguins, Guentzel earned one Stanley Cup ring (2017).
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