PITTSBURGH – Playoff hopes around the Pittsburgh Penguins took a considerable dip when they announced Jake Guentzel was heading to long-term injured reserve with an upper-body injury. The classification of long-term means Guentzel is not eligible to return until he misses 10 games or 24 days.
More than just their playoff chances, losing Guentzel to LTIR puts a dent in the possible return the Penguins could get in a trade. Guentzel has been a hot topic around the trade market, and with the Penguins struggling out of the All-Star break, a deal involving Guentzel continued to seem feasible.
Despite the injury and movement to LTIR, the Penguins can still trade Guentzel if they please. The return will likely take a hit, but he’s still moveable. The NHL’s trade deadline is March 8; the earliest Guentzel can return is March 10.
The Penguins playoff hopes aren’t completely dashed, but if they can’t get on the right track in short order, you might as well turn the season in. Sidney Crosby will do everything he can to pull the Penguins into the race, but that might not be enough.
After 51 games played, the Penguins sit five points out of a wild card spot and 10 behind the Philadelphia Flyers for third in the Metropolitan Division. The Penguins have multiple games in hand on just about everyone in the division, but it’s still a tough hill to climb.
Odds still aren’t in the Penguins’ favor to go on an unprecedented run, keeping the door open for a Guentzel trade before the deadline. Even if injured, teams are sure to pay for his talents as he would arrive just in time for the season's final stretch.
The return might take a hit, but it would be better than losing him for nothing in free agency. An injury to Guentzel doesn’t free the Penguins from decision-making. They still need to plan where this season is going and where they see themselves for years to come. Considering the situation, the smartest move might still be to ship Guentzel off for greener pastures.
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