On Thursday, the Pittsburgh Penguins are set to face the Tampa Bay Lightning in Florida. While Pittsburgh aims to maintain its playoff hopes, Tampa seeks to strengthen its lead in the Atlantic Division.
However, there’s an intriguing subplot to this matchup.
The Penguins will be up against former teammate Jake Guentzel for the fifth time. Guentzel was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes at the 2024 trade deadline before being traded again and eventually signing with the Lightning the next summer. In his four games against Pittsburgh since the trade, Guentzel has yet to score a goal but has contributed three assists.
The Guentzel trade initially appeared to focus more on quantity than quality, as several top prospects were involved, leaving the trade’s full impact still uncertain.
Here’s a breakdown of how Guentzel’s trade exchanges have evolved:
– March 8, 2024: The Penguins received forwards Michael Bunting, Vir Koivunen, Vasily Ponomarev, Cruz Lucius, and conditional first- and fifth-round draft picks from the Hurricanes in exchange for Jake Guentzel and defenseman Ty Smith.
– June 29, 2024: Using a conditional first-round pick obtained from Carolina (though conditions were not met), the Penguins drafted defenseman Harrison Brunicke 44th overall in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.
– June 30, 2024: The Hurricanes acquired a 2025 third-round pick from Tampa Bay in exchange for Guentzel.
– July 1, 2024: Guentzel signed a seven-year, $63 million contract with Tampa Bay.
– March 6, 2025: The Penguins traded Michael Bunting and a 2026 fourth-round pick to the Nashville Predators for forward Tommy Novak and defenseman Luke Schenn.
– March 7, 2025: The Penguins received a 2026 second-round pick and a 2027 fourth-round pick from the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for Schenn.
– June 28, 2025: The Hurricanes used the third-round pick they got from Tampa Bay to select defenseman Roman Bausov 87th overall in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.
In terms of outcomes, Tampa Bay clearly emerges as the biggest winner. The Lightning managed to secure a reliable 30-40 goal scorer for just a third-round pick, thanks to Guentzel’s status as an unrestricted free agent, making them the top beneficiary of the trade sequence.
On the other hand, the Carolina Hurricanes come out as the biggest losers. Losing Guentzel for just a third-round pick and missing out on prospects like Koivunen and top draft picks that helped the Penguins acquire promising players like Brunicke means Carolina lost a valuable winger and future assets.
As for the Penguins, the verdict is still out. Replacing a consistent 30-40 point scorer is tough, especially without securing a first-round pick for Guentzel. However, the team has gained assets such as Brunicke, whose potential as a top-pair defenseman is promising, along with other prospects and draft picks. These could offset the loss over time, making the trade a work in progress.
Overall, it will be interesting to see how this trade chain unfolds in the coming years and whether more surprises lie ahead.
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Fan Take: This ongoing trade saga highlights the complexities and long-term strategies behind NHL roster building, showing how one major player move can ripple through multiple teams. For hockey fans, these developments offer a fascinating glimpse into how future stars and team successes are often shaped by such trades, adding layers to the sport’s ever-evolving narrative.
