Although mere weeks ago it looked like the Carolina Hurricanes were ready to offer Jake Guentzel's signing rights for a mid-round draft pick, it now looks like the two sides might be able to come to a long-term solution that will keep the star forward in Raleigh for the foreseeable future.
“There seems to be some growing momentum between Guentzel and Carolina,” reported Sportsnet hockey insider Elliotte Friedman on the latest episode of The Jeff Marek Show. “We'll see where that ends up.”
Guentzel was vocal on how much he enjoyed playing in North Carolina after being traded from the Pittsburgh Penguins at the deadline. He also was terrific on the ice, recording eight goals and 25 points in 17 regular-season games and adding another nine points in 11 playoff contests.
Along with Steven Stamkos — who could re-sign with the Tampa Bay Lightning — Guentzel is the big fish of NHL free agency, which kicks off on July 1. And there have reportedly been no shortage of suitors lining up to potentially sign the American in a couple of days.
The Vancouver Canucks have been strongly linked towards making a push, especially as Guentzel played under general manager Patrik Allvin in Pennsylvania. As well, Chicago Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson is reportedly making an aggressive play to land a star linemate to play alongside Connor Bedard.
But there's still a chance that Guentzel and the Hurricanes come to an agreement — and Friedman confirms the front office would like to have it done before the NHL Draft at the Sphere in Las Vegas on Friday night.
Jake Guentzel fit like a glove with Hurricanes
“I loved my experience here,” Guentzel said just over a month ago after the Hurricanes were knocked out by the President's Trophy-winning New York Rangers in Round 2. “It’s a great place to play. I don’t think you realize the behind the scenes, how good it is. The guys make it good too. We’re going to see what happens over the next little bit here.”
Although the Canes fell short of a championship yet again in 2024, Guentzel believes the team's core — made up mostly of Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov and Jaccob Slavin — can get over the hump and bring a first title to Raleigh since 2006.
“This team for sure can win the Stanley Cup,” said the 2017 champion. “I think it’s right there. This puts you in a good spot to do that. I want to do that more than anything, and that’s all I care about. That definitely plays a factor into it. Hopefully you can kind of get some stability and be able to sign here long term.”
Guentzel signed a five-year, $30 million contract extension with the Penguins back in 2019, and he'll be due for a massive raise in both term and dollar value. Whether or not that gets done in Carolina or elsewhere is up in the air, but it won't be much longer before a decision is made.
And if it is the 29-year-old re-signing long-term in Raleigh, they should be Stanley Cup contenders for years to come.
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