There’s always the potential of waking up the next morning and finding out about a trade like the Jarome Iginla situation 11 years ago. This was not the case, at least this morning, for the Jake Guentzel situation. He remains a Pittsburgh Penguin, for now.

What we know right now is that the price is high for him and there are multiple teams interested. Here’s the latest

From what I’ve been told tonight, Jake Guentzel isn’t going to Vancouver unless Kyle Dubas’ asking price goes down. The Canucks would love to land him. But Dubas is asking for a price that they aren’t currently willing to pay.
Gonna be interesting.

— Josh Yohe (@JoshYohe_PGH) March 7, 2024

This is an interesting game of chicken because you know Rutherford desperately wants to acquire Guentzel. We also know when he fixates on a player he can be prone for an “overpay”. It is impossible to know at the moment, but I’m guessing the Canucks are balking at the idea of their top prospect Jonathan Lekkerimaki being part of the acquisition cost. Dubas is looking for prospects more so than late first round draft picks so this would make sense on why things have stalled.

Perhaps the Penguins should reacquire Kasperi Kapanen from the Blues and place him in the trade package to create the kind of cat nip Rutherford can’t refuse.

As for the other teams

Guentzel update: Not definitive, but sounds like teams in mix are CAR, FLA, NYR, VAN and VGK.

Unless something changes, belief is FLA + VAN have made strong push but don’t have goods to pull it off.

Of note: VGK could potentially create more cap room if Martinez goes on LTIR.

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) March 7, 2024

The Golden Knights have already traded for Anthony Mantha and Noah Hanifin. Most teams would be done, most. Vegas will do whatever they can to manipulate the salary cap rules to get the assets they want. Alec Martinez hitting LTIR until the end of the regular season would be another example of doing so. This would hypothetically create the space necessary to have room for Jake Guentzel. There is an interesting dynamic with the Golden Knights as it pertains to the Penguins. Brendan Brisson is one of their prospects and is the son of Pat Brisson, Sidney Crosby’s agent. It feels too on the nose, but I wouldn’t rule out a potential Vegas trade involving Brisson for that reason alone.

Still 6-7 teams with interest in Guentzel. I don't know all of them but believe VGK, Car, Fla and Van in the mix to varying degrees.
Canes offer would be prospects-based.
Panthers need price to soften.
Vegas still has '24 & '25 1st RD pick (!)
Van-Bos-Pit 3-way still possible?

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) March 7, 2024

Carolina being prospect based is appealing, but prospect is such a blanket term that it is probably a quantity not quality deal which is why it hasn't been made yet.

The three way trade LeBrun is alluding to is with Guentzel to Vancouver, Elas Lindholm to Boston and Jake DeBrusk to Pittsburgh. Obviously, it wouldn't be a straight up trade, at least it better not be for the Penguins. I would imagine the Penguins would be paid in futures for facilitating things.

Other players have garnered interest from around the league

Other teams have talked with Penguins about include:

Reilly Smith
Alex Nedeljkovic
Lars Eller
Chad Ruhwedel

That’s not full list. But it’s one with names Penguins would consider moving.

— Rob Rossi (@Real_RobRossi) March 7, 2024

No surprises here. They should trade everyone from this list.

That’s it for now.

Thanks for reading!

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