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The Hurricanes are seeking a mid-round draft pick for rights to negotiate with Guentzel prior July 1 free agency
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Published Jun 09, 2024 • Last updated 26 minutes ago • 4 minute read
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The Carolina Hurricanes will accept a mid-round draft pick for the rights to negotiate with Jake Guentzel before July 1 free agency. Photo by Frank Franklin II /AP
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In the hunt for a top-six winger, Jake Guentzel has always been in the Vancouver Canucks’ crosshairs.
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However, pulling a trigger on the pending unrestricted free agent was going to be complicated — but now there’s clarity. The Carolina Hurricanes will accept a mid-round draft pick for the rights to negotiate with Guentzel before July 1 free agency because he appears destined for the open market.
The Canucks don’t have first- or second-round selections in the 2024 NHL Draft but could part with a third or fourth if they’re convinced landing Guentzel is a marriage of current fit and past connection. And they also would get a leg up on several suitors.
The Pittsburgh Penguins received Michael Bunting, three prospects, a conditional 2024 first- and fifth-round draft picks in the Guentzel transaction and also retained 25 per cent of his salary. The trade also brought Ty Smith to the Hurricanes, so the Canucks surrendering a pick for negotiation rights for Guentzel doesn’t seem as daunting.
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After all, the Canucks would have had to part with prospect winger Jonathan Lekkerimaki and defenceman Tom Willander, plus a high draft pick, to cement a pre-deadline Guentzel transaction. That’s some sticker shock.
Penguins left winger Jake Guentzel checks big Canucks winger Ilya Mikheyev during Jan. 11 meeting in Pittsburgh. Photo by Gene J. Puskar /AP
The Canucks’ hockey operations department of head coach Rick Tocchet, general manager Patrik Allvin and president of operations Jim Rutherford has a Penguins history with Guentzel. The degree to which they have long coveted the left winger was evident before the trade deadline on March 8.
The Canucks considered flipping the struggling Elias Lindholm to the Boston Bruins, who lost a bid to land the centre before Vancouver struck a deal on Jan. 31, to free up space and take a run at Guentzel.
However, the Penguins dealt him to the Hurricanes in what was tight to be a critical long-term addition for Carolina.
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The Canucks know they will go from hunters to the hunted next season after capturing the Pacific Division title and nearly advancing to the Western Conference final.
They require more offence from forwards with a presence and playoff pedigree — and somebody to finally mesh with Elias Petterrsson or perhaps align with J.T. Miller — because the window to win is now.
That will come at a cost. Guentzel has an expiring US$6 million salary cap hit and players at his performance level are earning more and will command big raises in free agency.
Rutherford knows Guentzel has 38 goals in 69 playoff games, including four in six Stanley Cup Final outings. He’s a finisher on the biggest stage and doesn’t shy away from the spotlight.
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His 30 goals in 67 games this season with the Penguins and Hurricanes nowhere a warm-up for the second season where he struck four times in 11 games.
Guentzel earned a Stanley Cup ring in 2016 as a Penguins rookie and his 21 points (13-8) in 25 playoff games were a hint of future potential. He has had a pair of 40-goal seasons and often benefited from developing chemistry with Sidney Crosby. That will resonate with Rutherford.
It’s an intriguing development because the Hurricanes can’t afford to lose two top-six wingers. Restricted free agent Martin Necas, 25, has piqued the Canucks’ trade interest — and still might — but the disgruntled winger is now considered a budding star and Carolina wants star power in return.
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Canucks UFA centre Elias Lindholm had a strong post-season and checked a lot of boxes for Rick Tocchet. Photo by Rich Gagnon /Getty Images
Meanwhile, the encouraging post-season performance of pending UFA Lindholm, 29, has put the versatile forward back in the roster conversation. His 10 points (5-5) in 13 games, strong penalty-kill presence, effectiveness in faceoffs and shutdown roles, and even a willingness to play physical, is not lost on the Canucks.
And Lindholm checks a lot of boxes for Tocchet.
“In pressure situations, you’re looking for smart players,” said the Canucks bench boss. “He’s going to protect that back door and have his stick in the lane to deflect a puck, instead of it getting on net. And if there’s a rebound, he’s got his guy. It’s the little things.”
However, the Bruins have continued interest in Lindholm because of a pressing need at centre, and even if the Canucks offered a seven-year deal at $7 million annually, it still might not be enough.
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In a thin free-agent market at that position, Lindholm is going to cash in because the Bruins will have the cap space and willingness to massage their roster. They have three restricted and eight unrestricted free agents, but don’t have a veteran first-line centre.
Meanwhile, a rise in the salary cap for next season will help the Canucks absorb the Pettersson hit as his rich eight-year, $92.8 million extension kicks in and carries an $11.6 million annual cap it.
However, the ceiling limit of $88 million from $83.5 million this season is far from a fix-all solution. It has not risen more than $4 million since increasing to $4.5 million from $75 million in 2017-18 to $79.5 million in 2018-19.
That’s encouraging, but the Canucks can’t sign everybody. They have $24 million in projected cap space and several issues to address.
Pending UFAs Dakota Joshua and Nikita Zadorov will earn more in the market, but Tyler Myers is expected to take a discount on what he could command.
And if Allvin is true to his word about “finding the next Dakota Joshua,” as opposed to using it as a negotiating tactic to extend the big winger, then a cheaper alternative could also help with a Guentzel pitch.
bkuzma@postmedia.com
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Courtesy : https://theprovince.com/sports/hockey/nhl/vancouver-canucks/free-agent-jake-guentzel-pursuit