BOSTON — The Pittsburgh Penguins kicked over the first big domino of the NHL trade deadline when they traded Jake Guentzel to the Carolina Hurricanes late Thursday night. Reliable sources tell Pittsburgh Hockey Now that the Penguins have received interest in more players, who could have new addresses by the deadline at 3 p.m.
Lars Eller and Reilly Smith are two players who have drawn interest. A pair of Stanley Cup contenders have called about Eller, but Dubas’s interest in parting with the 34-year-old center who has become a conscience of the team, or the price tag, isn’t known.
Last week, Smith spoke with PHN and pushed back on rumors of his unhappiness but acknowledged he’d heard the trade rumors.
At the 2023 NHL trade deadline, the Washington Capitals recouped a 2025 second-rounder for Eller (and ate one-third of his $3.5 million salary).
Penguins president of Hockey operations/GM Kyle Dubas acquired five assets for Guentzel Thursday night, including gritty winger Michael Bunting.
Must Read: Jake Shake(up): Penguins Trade Guentzel to Hurricanes
As of 9:15 a.m., we haven’t yet had the next domino fall after Guentzel. However, Tony Androckitis, who covers the AHL, reports that Ty Smith, whom the Penguins included in the deal to Carolina, will remain with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins because Carolina does not have an AHL affiliate.
PHN has all bases covered today. Dave Molinari and Shelly Anderson are at the UPMC Lemieux Complex in Cranberry. They are covering the Penguins practice. I am currently at the Warrior Ice Arena in Boston. Dubas currently isn’t scheduled to speak, but it is customary for the Penguins GM to address the media following the deadline. Whether Dubas will do it in Pittsburgh or Boston, or at all, isn’t yet known.
Keep the comments coming. We’ll respond there, too. The blog will be updated in real time for moves. Otherwise, we’ll update every 15 minutes as we wait.
Saddle up.
9:25:
It’s quiet. Too quiet. So, let’s talk about the Guentzel return.
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