ESPN Reporter Emily Kaplan Provides a Grim Update on Pittsburgh Penguins Star Jake Guentzel

There is a Growing Chance That the Fate of Beloved Penguins Winger Jake Guentzel will Result in a Trade

Guentzel has proven time and again to be one of the most consistent and productive players on the current Penguins roster. Add to that, he really enjoys Pittsburgh and playing for the team. But with his contract up after this season, he could be a valuable commodity for the Penguins to bargain with.

In a conversation with Emily Kaplan last week, Guentzel's agent Ben Hankinson told her:




He also stressed the point that he has a good relationship with GM Kyle Dubas. They talked over the summer and understand where each side stands.

From the perspective of the organization, they want to win another Cup while Sidney Crosby is still an elite level player. But as the years go by, the team is one of the oldest in the league and are yet again, not a guarantee for the playoffs.

Guentzel, the 29-year-old winger is at the end of his 5-year, $30 million contract. With Pittsburgh making it a point to keep the core three possibly for the remainder of their careers, there may be no cap space for a player like Guentzel.

Guentzel Loves Playing in Pittsburgh, but Talks have Halted Since the Summer Regarding His Contract

There have been no substantial conversations between the two camps since the summer. And as much as Jake expressed loving playing in Pittsburgh, signing a long-term deal may not make sense. Other teams, according to Kaplan, have expressed interest in him. And as Penguins fans know, he shows up when needed the most. He has 34 goals in 58 career playoff games.


There is one factor in this, Crosby. He loves playing with Guentzel and has some power within the organization. Crosby stood up for Letang and Malkin in 2022 when it came to contract negotiations. Can the captain help persuade both sides to make a deal? We will see over the next few weeks how this will play out.

As Read on: ESPN - Guentzel's future, Gauthier trade among hot topics around the NHL