Frontrunner for Jake Guentzel Officially Emerges

The Vancouver Canucks were leading favorites for landing Penguins UFA Jake Guentzel until they made a blockbuster trade with the Calgary Flames regarding Elias Lindholm. A new western conference team has emerged as a frontrunner for the Penguins star.

Colorado emerges in potential Guentzel deal

Dubas has insisted that the Penguins' intentions are to keep Jake Guentzel with them reportedly giving Guentzel two offers in which he rejected both. The Penguins GM has a month to tidy things up on the contract front or else they will be left with no choice to shop him around before the famous March 8th deadline.

Frank Seravalli added Jake Guentzel to his list of targets and matched the star forward with the Colorado Avalanche. According to Seravalli, the deal would consist of Guentzel (at 50% retained) and goalie Alex Nedeljkovic heading to Colorado in exchange for first-round picks for 2024 and 2025 and a 2025 third-round pick.



Although it's a solid deal, the sense is that Dubas would want a top 6 forward in return to try and continue their push and keep their level of competitiveness for as long as possible, even if they lose Jake Guentzel.

Obviously, nothing set and stone regarding the Pens status ahead of the deadline, but a decision has to be looming with three weeks to go before GM's shut their phones until the 2024 NHL Draft.