Report: Penguins Open to Trading Jake Guentzel

PITTSBURGH – The NHL trade deadline is quickly approaching, and the floodgates may have been opened with one of the biggest trade pieces on the move prior to puck drop at the All-Star Game. With Elias Lindholm off the trade board, many are still wondering what the Pittsburgh Penguins will do with Jake Guentzel.

The goal scoring winger is in the final year of his contract and has been one of the Penguins most consistent producers on offense. Despite the production, the Penguins have struggled to remain in the playoff hunt and are still currently outside of a wild card spot.

With that amount of uncertainty and a rebuild looming, trading Guentzel has become a very real possibility. Reported prices have been set and teams have their interests, but is the new face of the Penguins front office ready to make that kind of move?

According to Josh Yohe of the Athletic, yes, Kyle Dubas is open to trading Guentzel even if it means upsetting captain Sidney Crosby and head coach Mike Sullivan.

“From what I’ve been told, Dubas isn’t afraid to trade Guentzel, even if Crosby and Sullivan would prefer to keep him employed in Pittsburgh,” Yohe writes. "If Dubas believes a new contract simply isn’t in the cards, I believe he’ll trade Guentzel before letting him walk for nothing.”

Moving Guentzel to recoup assets rather than seeing him depart during free agency makes the most sense for the team if that’s the direction they’re heading. Guentzel could easily nab the Penguins a top pick, a top prospect, and even an NHL-ready player.

It’s very likely the Penguins and Dubas want to keep Guentzel around, and for obvious reasons. He’s a highly skilled player who could easily hit 40 goals for the third time in his career this year. He helps the team win and they still have hopes of another Stanley Cup run.

The Penguins are a better team with Guentzel around, but Dubas has a tough decision to make and it might be coming soon.