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Jake Guentzel is rumored to be the prime target for the Tampa Bay Lightning after they cleared significant cap space. Tampa Bay general manager Julien BriseBois traded Mikhail Sergachev to Utah and Tanner Jeannot to the Los Angeles Kings on day two of the draft. The team is planning to make a big trade as free agency approaches on July 1.
NHL insider Elliotte Friedman talked about the Tampa Bay Lightning's prime target, Guentzel.
"Tampa’s believed priority target is Jake Guentzel, coming off a 30-goal season in Pittsburgh and Carolina," Friedman said (via Sportsnet).
Jake Guentzel's contract negotiation with the Hurricanes started after the playoff exit. The initial pitch from Guentzel's camp was for an eight-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of around $8 million. However, the Carolina Hurricanes took more time than expected to come to terms.
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"It looks like the market changed from when they started negotiating and now," Friedman quoted an anonymous NHL GM.
Currently, Guentzel's camp is also considering heading into free agency to try other options.
"It’s possible Guentzel’s rights are traded before Monday. There are teams who want to talk to him, to gauge his interest," Friedman added.
Julien BriseBois earlier discussed Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman's future. Stamkos is expected to explore free agency (agent Don Meehan confirmed the possibility). On the other hand, Hedman is expected to sign a contract extension on Day 1 of NHL free agency this year.
Jake Guentzel's trade possibility with the Vancouver Canucks
According to The Athletic's Josh Yohe, Vancouver Canucks is one of the teams strongly pursuing Jake Guentzel. Canucks first season under new captain Quinn Hughes was perfect, they made it to round two of the playoffs. So, they will once again hope to make it to the playoffs and possibly aim for the Stanley Cup.
This is what Yohe had to say about Guentzel:
“The Canucks would love to add Guentzel, a point-per-game player and one of the most prolific playoff goal scorers of his generation, to an already loaded top six that includes J.T. Miller, Elias Pettersson, and Brock Boeser.”
Guentzel was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes by the Pittsburgh Penguins close to the March 8 trade deadline.
Acquiring Guentzel could be a game-changer. He scored 30 goals, tied for 42nd in the league, and recorded 47 assists. Canucks are good defensively but a need for a good forward was felt during the series against Edmonton Oilers. Guetzel scored 77 points and was tied for 30th overall. He could be a good addition to Canucks' roster.
