For the third time in six years the Metropolitan Division has won the 3v3 all star competition. It is a winner take all 1M price which is split among the players. That means both Jake Guentzel and Tristan Jarry are a little bit happier for having participated in the event.
Tristan Jarry didn’t fare so well during skills night in the breakaway save streak event, but he came up big in the semi-final and final on Saturday. He stopped 14 out of 15 shots and at least one writer felt like he should have been the game’s MVP.
Tristan Jarry's my NHL All-Star Game MVP, with 14 saves on 15 shots in the finale. I asked him what a goalie's gotta do to win one.
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) February 6, 2022
“I don’t know. Claude [Giroux] played well in both games. He got a lot of points. He was very good out there.… @penguins @NHLFlyers
Here he is closing things down late in the final
THAT'S OUR GOALIE! pic.twitter.com/EEqRMSW1sR
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 5, 2022
Jake Guentzel had himself a decent weekend. He was a few inches away from winning the shot accuracy contest. Sebastion Aho went four for four before him so he knew he had to be perfect and almost was. If he hit the fourth target he would have beaten Aho’s time. It doesn’t surprise me in the least bit he came close to winning this event. He is a pure goal scorer. His turn is 4:35 in the video below.
In the all star game Guentzel finished with a goal and two assists between the semi finals and final. His goal came from future linemate Claude Giroux…
Captain Claude with the sauce. #NHLAllStar | @28CGiroux pic.twitter.com/QkxzQtLZYP
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) February 5, 2022
Guentzel returned the favor
Guentzel âž¡ï¸ Giroux âž¡ï¸ in the net 🚨
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 5, 2022
There's 1:45 left in the championship game and the Metro Division has the 5-3 lead! pic.twitter.com/p5aKfZrue1
I am only half-kidding about the future linemate thing. Claude Giroux might fall in the same price range as Bryan Rust and he might not command as many years. If the Rust situation falls through I think Giroux would be a really nice option to focus on. I do not believe Giroux to be an option for the trade deadline. The Flyers are going to want a decent amount for their captain who is playing well. Then you need to factor in how much it would cost the Penguins specifically for such a trade. Then you need to calculate Ron Hextall being the GM after all the Bobby Clarke nonsense from a few weeks ago and it isn’t very realistic. Even if you didn't have to account for the Philadelphia Pittsburgh dynamic the Penguins don’t exactly have anything of value to trade in a prospective bidding war.
Giroux is a pending UFA and that is the time this potential scenario would play out. I could think of a lot worse ways to spend the money.
For now, the G and G connection will have to wait until further notice.
The Penguins will be back in action against the Boston Bruins tomorrow night. The Bruins are currently 4th in the Atlantic Division, but they did get their trusty #1 goaltender back in Tuukka Rask.
Thanks for reading!